It looks like Justin Fields is unlikely to be 100 percent when the Buckeyes take on Clemson on Saturday.
At the Dec. 14 Heisman Trophy Ceremony in New York, Fields said he was hoping to be 100 percent healthy heading into the College Football Playoff, but with less than a week before the game, he's still not quite there.
"My knee's probably not where I want it to be right now," Fields said during Ohio State's Fiesta Bowl media availability on Wednesday. "But I think with treatment every day and just resting it every day, hopefully, it will be better by the game."
Fields said he plans to wear the small knee brace he wore to start Ohio State's game against Michigan, but will have a bigger brace ready "in case anything happens."
Justin Fields says his knee isnt exactly as healthy as he wanted it to be at this point and hell wear a small brace on it. pic.twitter.com/OiycoVOAxd
— Colin Hass-Hill (@chasshill) December 24, 2019
The Buckeye quarterback originally suffered an MCL sprain at the end of the Buckeyes' win over Penn State and reaggravated that injury in the second half against Michigan, forcing him into a bigger brace for the remainder of that game and the duration of the Big Ten Championship game against Wisconsin.
Fields said the injury has not caused him to miss any practice time during Ohio State game preparation, but that the injury hinders his mobility.
"I definitely thought I would be closer to 100 percent," Fields said. "If I had to give a percentage, I think I'm at 80 or 85 right now. I'm just going to hope and pray I feel better by game day, really."
