There was a familiar face back at Penn State practice this week, and with it came an uplifting spirit. Ryan Keiser, a senior captain and safety, is back with the team in a leadership role, although he will not play again this season after undergoing surgery to take care of a bowel injury.
“It was great. I haven’t seen him in a while,” Penn State head coach James Franklin said Wednesday. “Having him back was really good. He sat in meetings. He actually was here last night in the training room, so a bunch of guys got to see him then.”
Keiser fractured a rib during a practice in late October that led to a bowel injury. He underwent treatment at Hershey Medical Center, where he spent about three weeks being cared for.
Keiser will not travel with the team this week when the Nittany Lions head to Illinois, but Franklin does want to do all he can to make sure he is a part of the team’s pregame routine before Penn State’s final home game of the regular season against Michigan State.
Penn State is bowl eligible this season after winning its sixth game this past weekend against Temple, although it is unknown if Keiser will be able to return for any potential bowl game or not.