Things just keep getting worse for Penn State.

After Saturday’s 41-21 loss at Iowa, Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin announced that tight end Pat Freiermuth will be out for the remainder of the season after suffering an injury that will require surgery this week.

Along with Freiermuth’s production on the field, totaling 92 receptions for 1,185 yards and 16 touchdowns over his 30 games from 2018-20, the impact of not having the junior tight end on the field will leave a void outside the stat line.

PSU junior Jahan Dotson was quick to point out the impact his classmate’s absence from the field will have.

“We’re going to miss Pat significantly,” said Dotson.

Dotson and Freiermuth were a pair of four-star recruits in the 2018 class for PSU. The duo boasted a No. 6 finish nationally for the 247Sports Composite Team Rankings.

“He’s, honestly, in my opinion, the best tight end in the country and it hurts not having him out there. But he’s one of those guys that he never gets down, he never gets down about anything. He’s looking at the young tight ends (to) step up. He’s looking to take on that leadership role,” said Dotson.

“… He’s a vocal leader. He’s out there at practice, every single day, hurt or not, just making sure those young guys are doing what they’re supposed to do in the positions that they’re supposed to be in and we have complete faith in (redshirt freshman) Brenton (Strange), (freshman) Theo (Johnson), (freshman) Tyler (warren) — whoever is in the game. We know we have a lot of good tight ends at this school and in this program. And losing Pat, it hurts, but it’s just the next man up.”