APWhen Ohio State takes the field for its “toughest” test of the young season this weekend, they’ll do so without a starting member of its backfield.
Carlos Hyde suffered a knee injury late in the first half of Saturday’s win over UCF and didn’t return. The injury was subsequently diagnosed as a sprained MCL, with head coach Urban Meyer acknowledging Monday that the running back has already been ruled out of this Saturday’s game at Ohio Stadium against Cal.
Whether Hyde misses any game beyond this weekend is an unknown at this point.
Hyde is second on the team to quarterback Braxton Miller — who’s fourth in rushing nationally, incidentally — with 109 yards rushing and two touchdowns in two games.
Even as Hyde is out, there’s also a chance that the projected starter throughout the offseason could return for the Bears. Jordan Hall, who has missed the first two games of the season as he recovers from a freak offseason foot injury, may be a go for the third game. A decision on that, though, likely won’t be made until later in the week.
If Hall is out as well as Hyde, true freshman Bri’onte Dunn would likely get the start. Dunn is third on the team in rushing with 60 yards.
shows you how quick you can go from logjam to thin. if Hall can get back, they are shootin’ par. if not: could be a long afternoon if Dunn/Smith doesn’t pick up the slack. Miller needs the run game taken off of him.
El Guapo will be missed on Saturday but hopefully we’ll get Hall back. Cal will no doubt try to stuff the running game and force Braxton to pass… from what I’m starting to see – that may be a big loser as well. Going to be a fun game to watch!
Go Buckeyes!
I’m sure a lot of Buckeye fans are relieved after actually clicking and reading the full article. The headline just said that the “starting RB” was out, and most people watching the first two games probably would have assumed that meant Braxton Miller.
@overratedgators: #tipscap
Back atcha, JT.
Really? A tip of the cap for assuming people would confuse “starting RB” with a running QB? Wow.
Don’t worry, Buckeyes. This is a horrible Cal team led by an overpaid, uninspiring head coach and QB that couldn’t start for many junior colleges.
marjax, perhaps this link will help clarify my earlier comment:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sarcasm