For the Ohio State Twitter account, it became almost a game.
With the general public acutely aware of the COVID-19 positives within the football program ahead of the Michigan State matchup two weeks ago, the social media team released a selection of photos in the days leading up to the Buckeyes taking the field that either happened to obscure the identities of players or featured underclassmen who don’t play much. Cade Stover, Cody Simon or Xavier Johnson were among those included in photos blasted off to social media. Then, the night before the game versus the Spartans, the social media team quelled the fears of some by sending out a photo of a masked Justin Fields walking onto the East Lansing-bound flight.
The past week or so has been a complete reversal.
Slowly, Ohio State has intentionally posted photos onto their social media accounts of the players and coaches who weren’t available to face Michigan State back at practice. First, it was safety Josh Proctor, middle linebacker Tuf Borland, quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis and head coach Ryan Day. Then it was right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere.
The preparation starts now.#GoBuckeyes #Fight pic.twitter.com/vlnxIjz2Km
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 9, 2020
Day confirmed last week that the other assistants – co-defensive coordinator Greg Mattison and safeties coach Matt Barnes – were back at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, and quarterback Justin Fields mentioned this weekend that center Josh Myers and left tackle Thayer Munford are in the facility again.
In other words, one way or another, almost every regular contributor and coach who missed the game against the Spartans nine days ago has been spotted or mentioned to be back at practice. Still, Day didn’t want to confirm that all or most of the players who were unavailable for the past game were back in the building.
“The last time I said anything, I think I jinxed myself,” Day said on Sunday. “So I'm going to plead the fifth on this one.”
Ohio State has not commented on absences of specific players either, so it’s unclear how many of them tested positive for coronavirus, how many were out due to contact tracing or how many were just banged up.
Defensive end Tyler Friday and offensive tackle Paris Johnson are among the few remaining who haven’t been shown in photos at practice or mentioned as being back to workouts. Everybody else, it appears, has already returned.
“It's definitely made the team happier,” Fields said. “Of course, seeing my guys Josh Myers, Nick Petit-Frere and Thayer back, I missed those guys a lot. I texted them before we played Michigan State and just told them I miss them out there and I know they'd do anything to play that game. It's just glad seeing those guys back in the building. I know they're happy to be back. They're back to working hard and just getting ready for this upcoming game.”
Yes, if you’re doing the math, you probably realize it hasn’t yet been three full weeks since the COVID-19 outbreak within the team days ahead of the canceled Illinois game. Big Ten rules require players to not play in games for a minimum of 21 days, but they do not bar them from practicing. That’s a fairly common misconception.
After 14 days, players are allowed to get back into the facility for practices. So, anybody who originally tested positive for coronavirus in the week leading up to the once-scheduled game against the Illini would have been able to return to practice at some point last week provided they eventually tested negative, and – if they pass the necessary tests – those players will have the ability to play in the Big Ten title game on Saturday.
The Buckeyes have a regimented return-to-play process for players for those who tested positive for COVID-19.
They first have to test negative for coronavirus then complete the mandated cardiac testing. That's followed by them getting back into running, lifting and conditioning, with strength and conditioning coach Mickey Marotti, physical therapist Adam Stewart and head athletic trainer Shaun Barnhouse presiding over them. Once back into practice, they take 30 percent of their reps followed by 50 percent of their reps before getting all the way back into the regular flow of things.
Day called it a “progression over a week,” also noting that they’re more careful with skill players who could have a higher propensity for soft-tissue injuries after a layoff.
“We slowly add on more and more each day,” Day said.
With many players starting that process of getting back to the field a week ago, the Buckeyes should have plenty of guys making their return as they play with a trophy on the line this weekend.
