The bad injury news of the week arrived on Tuesday for Ohio State when Seth McLaughlin suffered a season-ending Achilles injury.
But there are some silver linings to the Buckeyes' injury report against No. 5 Indiana. No other starters are out besides McLaughlin and Josh Simmons, also out for the season with a knee injury, and No. 2 tight end Will Kacmarek is available for the first time in more than a month, bolstering Ohio State's depth and blocking ability at the position. Backup defensive end Mitchell Melton also returns after missing last week's game at Northwestern.
| OSU STATUS REPORT FOR INDIANA |
|---|
| Out |
|
WR Nolan Baudo RB TC Caffey (Season) C Seth McLaughlin (Season) OT Zen Michalski OT Josh Simmons (Season) WR Reis Stocksdale |
Kacmarek, who transferred to the Buckeyes from Ohio this past offseason, exited the Oregon game with an upper-body injury on Oct. 12 and has not played since. His return was expected, as Ryan Day said throughout the week that Kacmarek was trending toward being available.
“He's had a good week of practice, and we'll see how he does tomorrow and see what he says and see what the doctors say. But he's had a good week, and I think he'll be available,” Day said Wednesday.
Kacmarek has five receptions for 58 yards in six games this year but has made his biggest impact as a blocker, especially in two-tight end sets with Gee Scott Jr. Melton has played 93 snaps this season, collecting 11 tackles and two sacks.
Also returning for the Buckeyes are cornerbacks Calvin Simpson-Hunt and Aaron Scott Jr., providing Ohio State with further depth on the outside against the Hoosiers.
Outside of Simmons and McLaughlin, the only other scholarship player unavailable for Saturday’s game is backup offensive tackle Zen Michalski, who will miss his fourth straight game since suffering an injury against Nebraska.
Carson Hinzman, who started Ohio State’s last three games at left guard after Donovan Jackson moved to left tackle, is slated to start at center in place of McLaughlin. Austin Siereveld is taking Hinzman's place at left guard.
Ohio State and Indiana kick off their top-five bout at noon on FOX.
