Ohio State’s top wideout should see his first action since Week 3 on Saturday.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who has missed all but two games this year due to a hamstring injury suffered in the season opener, was not listed as unavailable or as a game-time decision on the Buckeyes’ status report ahead of the Iowa matchup.
| OHIO STATE STATUS REPORT FOR IOWA |
|---|
| UNAVAILABLE |
|
CB CAMERON BROWN S KOURT WILLIAMS DE TYLER FRIDAY RB TC CAFFEY RB EVAN PRYOR DE MITCHELL MELTON WR KAMRYN BABB DE OMARI ABOR LB TERADJA MITCHELL TE JOE ROYER CB LLOYD MCFARQUHAR DL BRYCE PRATER WR CORBAN CLEVELAND LB JALEN PACE |
The record-setting junior receiver was seen catching passes on the JUGS machine in full uniform after Ohio State’s Wednesday practice at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, and Marvin Harrison Jr. said afterward that Smith-Njigba has been practicing in the leadup to Iowa.
Smith-Njigba has only seen 38 snaps for the Buckeye offense thus far, and has just four catches for 36 yards and no touchdowns on the season. Smith-Njigba missed four of the past five games for the Buckeyes.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba catching passes on the jugs machine after Ohio State practice tonight. pic.twitter.com/YKkP0rh9k9
— Griffin Strom (@GriffinStrom3) October 19, 2022
Smith-Njigba isn’t the only notable Buckeye who is healthy enough to play against the Hawkeyes after missing time. Ohio State running backs Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson were both absent from the Buckeyes’ status report after dealing with injury issues over the past few weeks.
Henderson sat out of Ohio State’s Week 5 matchup with Rutgers, in which Williams stepped up to rush for 189 yards and five touchdowns. Williams missed the following game due to injury while Henderson was reinserted into the lineup against Michigan State, but Henderson left that game on the first play of the third quarter, leading to more questions about the health of the Buckeyes' two top rushers. Against Iowa, though, it looks like both will be back in action.
Second-year cornerback Jordan Hancock, who has yet to play a snap for the Buckeye defense this season, could make his 2022 debut on Saturday. After missing the first six games with an injury stemming from the preseason, Hancock was not listed on Ohio State's status report for the Iowa game.
OSU corner Jordan Hancock walking around in full gear after practice. Hasnt played a snap for the Buckeye defense this season. pic.twitter.com/zpoXwSteP1
— Griffin Strom (@GriffinStrom3) October 19, 2022
Ohio State will be without one starter on defense, though, as fifth-year cornerback Cameron Brown will miss his third game this season due to injury. Brown returned to the field against Michigan State after missing the Wisconsin and Rutgers games, but still seems to be dealing with an issue after the bye week as he’ll be unavailable Saturday.
Other notable absences for Ohio State include Kourt Williams, who Ryan Day said has a “long-term” injury, and fellow Buckeye captains Tyler Friday and Kamryn Babb as well as Teradja Mitchell, Joe Royer and TC Caffey.
Kickoff is set for noon at Ohio Stadium between the 6-0 Buckeyes and 3-3 Hawkeyes in Saturday’s Week 8 matchup between interdivisional Big Ten foes.
