Jaxon Smith-Njigba, TreVeyon Henderson Out, Dawand Jones Game-Time Decision For Buckeyes

COLUMBUS — The Buckeyes will once again be without starting running back TreVeyon Henderson and starting receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and they could also be without starting right tackle Dawand Jones.

Ohio State has just released its availability report for today’s game against Indiana and Jones is listed as a game-time decision. Jones has been a starter for the past two seasons. If he cannot go, the right tackle position would likely be manned by redshirt sophomore Josh Fryar.

Fryar played in 12 games last year and has found a role as a “jumbo tight end” when Ohio State brings in a short-yardage package.

Smith-Njigba still being unavailable this week is no surprise. The junior receiver has been stymied by a hamstring injury this season. Henderson missed last week’s game against Northwestern. This will be the third game he has missed this season.

Henderson’s absence is made more inauspicious by the fact that junior linebacker-turned-running back Chip Trayanum is also a game-time decision this week. Trayanum transferred to Ohio State to play linebacker but made the move back to running back last month in order to help the Buckeyes where they needed it.

Head coach Ryan Day said on Thursday that Trayanum and true freshman running back Dallan Hayden had played well in practice and they wanted to get both of them some action this weekend. Last season at Arizona State, Trayanum rushed for 401 yards as a sophomore. He has 691 yards rushing in his career.

Sophomore cornerback Jordan Hancock missed last week’s game because of the conditions. He does not appear on this week’s list despite the forecast for rain. This is likely a good sign for Hancock’s current health status.

Also off the report is senior starting cornerback Cameron Brown. Brown has missed the previous three games — and five games overall this season. If he can get back into the rotation with Hancock, that would make the Buckeyes much stronger against the pass moving forward. It would also give cornerbacks coach Tim Walton more options when deciding who should be on the field.

Here is the full availability report from Ohio State for the Indiana game.

Game-Time Decision

RT Dawand Jones
RB Chip Trayanum
OL Toby Wilson

Unavailable

RB TC Caffey
RB TreVeyon Henderson
TE Zak Herbstreit
CB Lloyd McFarquhar
LB/DE Mitchell Melton
LB Jalen Pace
DL Zach Prater
RB Evan Pryor
LS Bradley Robinson
WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
SAF Kourt Williams

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