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Ohio State starting lineman out for season, Ryan Day announces
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Ohio State starting left tackle Josh Simmons is out for the remainder of the 2024 season, Ryan Day confirmed on Tuesday.
Simmons injured his lower leg midway through the 2nd quarter of Ohio State’s loss at Oregon in Week 7. After briefly standing, Simmons needed the cart to exit the field for evaluation.
The latest news does not come as a surprise. In his postgame comments, Day had already said it did not look likely for Simmons to return in 2024. Tuesday’s announcement confirmed that initial assessment.
Simmons transferred to Ohio State ahead of the 2023 season after spending 2 years at San Diego State. He was the right tackle starter at SDSU, but moved to the left side for the Buckeyes, starting all 13 games at LT in 2023.
Zen Michalski stepped in for Simmons at Oregon and will take over the starting role, beginning with Saturday’s game against Nebraska.
The 6-6, 319-pound Michalski is in Year 4 with Day’s program. After making only 1 appearance in 2021, Michalski played in all 26 games of the 2022 and ’23 seasons primarily on special teams earning varsity letters.
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Ryan Day on Ohio State LT Josh Simmons: “He’ll be out for the season. … It’s a knee injury, so he’ll be out.”
Day said Zen Michalski will replace Simmons this week vs. Nebraska.
Day said Michalski is a “veteran guy” who “knows what we’re doing.”
— Andy Backstrom (@andybackstrom) October 22, 2024
A former Florida beat reporter, Andrew writes for the Saturday Tradition News Desk.