Ohio State starters Phillip Daniels and Zion Grady are unlikely to play this weekend against Kent State after both suffered injuries in Saturday’s loss to Texas. While Ryan Day confirmed Tuesday that neither injury is considered long-term, his Wednesday update made clear that both the starting right tackle and starting defensive end are trending toward missing the game.
“Those guys right now haven’t really practiced much this week,” Day said. “We’ll have to see coming out of tomorrow how it shakes out. I would say it’s probably trending toward them not being available. But we’ll see how tomorrow goes.”
Why Did Daniels and Grady Miss Practice This Week?
The simple answer is that both injuries occurred during Saturday’s game against Texas and haven’t healed quickly enough for either player to return to practice reps. Daniels went down late in the fourth quarter with what appeared to be a right leg injury, requiring assistance from trainers just to walk off the field, and he didn’t return to action afterward.
Grady’s injury happened earlier in the game, in the second quarter, when he went down with a knee issue. He was taken to the medical tent and later emerged riding the stationary bike on the sideline — a common sign a player is being evaluated for return-to-play but ultimately wasn’t cleared, as Grady didn’t see the field again for the remainder of the game.
Because neither player has been able to log meaningful practice reps in the days since, Day’s update suggests the Buckeyes’ medical and coaching staff simply haven’t seen enough recovery progress yet to feel confident clearing either player for Saturday, even with the injuries being described as short-term.
How Will Phillip Daniels’ Absence Affect Ohio State’s Offensive Line?
Losing Daniels at right tackle continues an offensive line storyline that’s already been in flux this season. Gabe VanSickle stepped in for Daniels against Texas, sliding to right guard while Austin Siereveld moved out to right tackle in Daniels’ place. That same shuffle actually happened once before this season — in Week 1 against Ball State, VanSickle played multiple drives with the first-team offense at right guard, with Siereveld again playing right tackle, after Daniels was pulled for a stretch due to performance issues.
Left guard Luke Montgomery expressed full confidence in VanSickle stepping into a bigger role if needed, calling him a strong, reliable player who can handle multiple positions and praising his overall toughness. Joshua Padilla, who also competed for a starting job during preseason camp, remains a candidate for right guard snaps as well, though VanSickle appears to have passed him on the depth chart late in fall camp and looks like the more likely starter if Daniels can’t go.
Who Replaces Zion Grady at Defensive End?
The picture is less clear on the defensive line. Grady’s emergence as a starter over the first two games was something of a surprise, since Beau Atkinson had appeared to be the favorite for the job opposite Kenyatta Jackson Jr. throughout most of fall camp. Grady had looked like he’d firmly won the role through two strong performances before his knee injury against Texas changed the equation.
With Grady sidelined, Atkinson and Qua Russaw appear to be the top candidates to get the first opportunity to start opposite Jackson against Kent State. Ohio State also showed some flexibility up front against Texas, occasionally lining up Eddrick Houston and James Smith on the edge rather than at their usual interior spots — meaning that combination could be another option the coaching staff leans on. Epi Sitanilei, a second-year defensive end like Grady, is another name who could see an increased role while Grady recovers.
Could Freshman Khary Wilder Get More Snaps at Defensive End?
The name generating the most excitement among Ohio State fans, though, is true freshman Khary Wilder. Wilder played just five snaps against Texas but still managed to generate two pressures, according to Pro Football Focus — an efficient, high-impact showing in extremely limited playing time. He also nearly recorded a sack against Ball State in Week 1, and the pressure he created on that play directly led to quarterback Keldric Luster throwing an interception that was picked off by TJ Alford. With Grady out and the rotation behind Jackson still sorting itself out, Wilder’s per-snap production could earn him an expanded role this week.
How Much Will These Injuries Actually Affect Ohio State Against Kent State?
Given Kent State’s status as a heavy underdog, these absences are unlikely to threaten the outcome of the game itself. The bigger question is what these injuries mean for continuity heading into Big Ten play. Ohio State’s offensive line has already dealt with shuffling at right tackle and right guard twice this season, and finding stability there before facing tougher competition remains an ongoing project. On defense, an unsettled edge rotation opposite Kenyatta Jackson Jr. means Ohio State could be auditioning multiple options — Atkinson, Russaw, Sitanilei, and Wilder — in real game action this week, which could end up being a genuine positive if it forces valuable depth to develop faster than originally planned.
What to Watch For Saturday Against Kent State
With both Daniels and Grady trending toward sitting out, Saturday’s game becomes as much about evaluating Ohio State’s depth as it does about the final score. How Gabe VanSickle and Austin Siereveld handle the right side of the offensive line, and which combination of edge rushers earns the most snaps opposite Kenyatta Jackson Jr., should offer a clearer picture of Ohio State’s depth chart heading into Big Ten play regardless of how comfortably the Buckeyes are expected to win on paper.
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