PISCATAWAY, N.J. — As Ohio State football gets one receiving weapon back today against Rutgers, it loses another.
Starting tight end Cade Stover did not start Saturday’s game after going through full warmups. He is on the sideline in uniform but without his helmet.
Gee Scott Jr. started in place of Stover, one of the Buckeyes’s three captains who stood for the coin toss. Their second possession ended with Scott making a contested catch in the end zone for his second career touchdown reception.
Backup tight end Joe Royer is also unavailable today and did not make the trip.
Other options in uniform include veteran backup Sam Hart, walk-on Patrick Gurd and true freshman Jelani Thurman.
Stover has been dealing with an apparent right knee injury suffered during the win over Penn State two weeks ago. He wore a brace on his right knee to return to that game, and wore it again last week at Wisconsin.
Stover has taken another step in his development this season. He leads all Big Ten tight ends in receiving yards (429) and ranks second in receptions (27) with three touchdowns.
Backup tight end Joe Royer is also unavailable today and did not make the trip.
Other options in uniform include veteran backup Sam Hart, walk-on Patrick Gurd and true freshman Jelani Thurman.
