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Penn State is going to be without one of its best players for the foreseeable future. Coach James Franklin confirmed Wednesday after practice that safety Kevin Winston Jr., also a team captain, is out with a “long-term” injury.
Franklin typically does not comment on injuries unless they are season-ending or at least will cost the player the vast majority of the season. Winston left the field against Bowling Green limping in the second quarter , returning to the sideline still in uniform but without his helmet. The junior is widely regarded as one of the best safeties in college football and could have turned into an early-round NFL Draft pick next season.
Winston is also one of the team’s strongest leaders on and off the field . “Even though he’s hurt, he’s still there with us. The spirit, the impact is all still there,” veteran defensive tackle Coziah Izzard said Wednesday.
“The energy during practice, the things he says in terms of leadership, it’s all still there.” BETTING: Check out our guide to the best PA sportsbooks , where our team of sports betting experts has reviewed the experience, payout speed, parlay options and quality of odds for multiple sportsbooks. Take a look at our five best college football bets for Week 4.
Winston was off to a hot start in the 2024 season. He tallied a career-high 12 tackles at West Virginia in the season opener alongside a fumble recovery, earning the Big Ten’s Defensive Player of the Week Award as well as a national award for his performance . He has 13 tackles in total this season.
In Winston’s stead, Jaylen Reed appears likely in the short term to play a lot more as a true safety rather than at Penn State’s hybrid nickel defensive back position called the “Lion.” Cornerback Cam Miller will fill in at nickel when necessary, as he did against Bowling Green, but freshmen safeties Dejuan Lane and Antoine Belgrave-Shorter are key names in the process. If those young players can get up to speed quickly enough, Reed could move back into the Lion role, where he was extremely disruptive against West Virginia.
This is the second “long-term” injury to a starter this season, with tight end Andrew Rappleyea going down in recent weeks . A few more notes from Wednesday’s practice session: -Redshirt freshman linebacker Ta’Mere Robinson was back participating in practice drills during the media’s viewing window for the first time in a few weeks. He won Penn State’s special teams player of the week nomination after the West Virginia win, but he left the field late in the game after a kickoff.
He had “bumps and bruises,” Franklin said, a short-term injury. -Franklin on Robinson: “We need him. He was really doing well.
So to be able to get him back is helpful at a position where we’re trying to develop some more depth right now. It’s great having him back out at practice for sure.” -No.
1 wide receiver Harrison Wallace III looked a bit slower than usual while going through drills and running routes. He was a full participant, but it seemed less than full speed. Expect redshirt sophomore Tyler Johnson to fill a lot of Wallace’s snaps if something is up with the star wideout against Kent State.
-Wide receiver/punt returner Kaden Saunders, dealing with a “lingering injury,” looked much closer to full speed in drills. He has now been a full participant in three straight weeks of practice, but his involvement on Saturdays has been minimal. Saunders is someone Franklin said Monday had a lot of excitement for a potentially larger role this season.
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