Ryan Day and Ohio State have utilized a new short-yardage package with redshirt freshman quarterback Devin Brown in recent weeks. Unfortunately, Brown left the game against Penn State with an injury, and he’s expected to be sidelined for a bit.

During his Monday evening radio show, Day announced it’s likely Brown will be out “at least a couple weeks” with a lower leg injury. Without Brown available, the head coach was asked at his Tuesday press conference if that specific package of plays would be shelved or if true freshman Lincoln Kienholz could potentially make an appearance.

Day admitted that Kienholz is younger than Brown but has the athletic ability to run some of those plays. He said the Buckeyes will look to get Kienholz up to speed this week ahead of the Wisconsin game.

“Yeah, he’s very athletic. He’s younger but he is athletic so we’re going to look to see if we can maybe get him in that role,” Day explained. “See how the week goes.”

Coming out of high school, Kienholz was a 4-star recruit and the No. 15 QB in the country per the 247 Sports Composite. He’s listed at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds and joined the Buckeyes over the summer as a member of the 2023 recruiting class.

It sounds like seeing Kienholz in action this season is certainly not out of the realm of possibility, but how much remains to be seen. It’s also unclear who is the current backup QB to starter Kyle McCord.

Obviously, McCord is the starter barring an injury with Kienholz and former Oregon State QB Tristan Gebbia available on the depth chart with Brown currently out. If a game turns into a blowout lead for Ohio State, it might naturally lend itself to some early playing time for Kienholz during Brown’s absence.

(H/T WBNS 10TV)