9/22/2022 football Edit

Penn State versus Central Michigan - Injury/Player Availability Report

Justin Morganstein • Happy Valley Insider

Staff Writer

Penn State is coming off a statement win last week in which they completely dominated Auburn despite playing in front of a hostile road crowd.

Now, the Nittany Lions are looking to avoid a major letdown against a non-Power Five program as it welcomes MAC opponent Central Michigan to Beaver Stadium.

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James Franklin will be looking to clean some small things up in this game but would mainly love to get out with a win and a healthy roster first.

Here is the injury report for both programs heading into this early-season matchup.

© Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK (© Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK)

Penn State

PENN STATE AVAILABILITY REPORT

PLAYER	REASONING	NOTES
RB Keyvone Lee	Leg injury suffered against Auburn	James Franklin noted on Wednesday evening that it's unclear if Lee will be available this weekend.
TE Theo Johnson	Undisclosed	Johnson returned to action against Auburn
DE Smith Vilbert	Undisclosed	Vilbert has not played yet this season for Penn State for undisclosed reasons.
DT Coziah Izzard	Undisclosed	Izzard has not played yet this season for Penn State for undisclosed reasons.

Penn State has been able to stay relatively healthy in 2022 through three games which is a very positive sign.

The Nittany Lions were glad to have Theo Johnson back on the field against the Tigers after his two-game absence to start the year with an undisclosed injury.

Despite seeing limited action, his return is significant as Penn State can add yet another weapon to its already talented tight end room with Brenton Strange and Tyler Warren.

Other than that there were three players who left the game against Auburn at one point but all returned within a short amount of time.

Keyvone Lee was examined for a possible leg injury that he sustained in the first half and linebackers Curtis Jacobs and Tyler Elsdon were also evaluated after getting banged up. That being said, on Wednesday evening, Lee was not seen at Penn State's practice and when asked about his availability, head coach James Franklin told the media that he was "not sure yet" if the third-year running back would be ready to go for Saturday.

The fact that they all re-entered the game is an encouraging sign and if things go according to plan this week, all of them should be good to go.

Defensive linemen Coziah Izzard and Smith Vilbert did not make the trip down to Auburn last weekend and could miss their fourth straight game to start the year for undisclosed reasons.

Central Michigan

OPPONENT AVAILABILITY REPORT

PLAYER	REASONING	NOTES
WR Dallas Dixon	Arm injury	Out for the season
WR Carlos Carriere	Wisdom teeth	Unclear - missed last weekend's matchup against Bucknell
CB Donte Kent	Wisdom teeth	Unclear

If Central Michigan plans on stunning Penn State this weekend, it may have to do so without a couple of key contributors.

Top wide receiver Dallas Dixon has been ruled out for the year after sustaining an arm injury early in the season, a big blow for Jim McElwain’s offense.

Wide receiver Carlos Carriere, a Maryland transfer who had nine catches for 144 yards and a touchdown in the Chippewas first two games, missed last weekend’s matchup against Bucknell and it is unknown if he’ll be ready this Saturday after having his wisdom teeth removed.

The same can be said for cornerback and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, native Donte Kent who also had all four of his wisdom teeth removed in the same week. Unfortunate timing for Central Michigan.

So some of the receiver depth may need to step up for the Chippewas as two of its potential top three targets could be out on Saturday if Carriere still can’t go.