After Wednesday’s practice, Penn State head coach James Franklin revealed a significant injury setback for the team. A key defensive player and veteran leader, has suffered a “long-term” injury. He started in the second game of the season against Bowling Green but left with an injury in the first half and did not return.
This injury is a major blow to Penn State’s defense and the team as a whole. After a strong finish to the 2023 season, Winston had been making an impact in 2024. Alongside Abdul Carter, he is considered one of the most crucial and talented players on the defense. He earned the title of Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against West Virginia and was named a team captain for 2024. Fortunately, Franklin noted that Winston will still play a significant role in leadership despite the injury. However, his absence poses a challenge for the defense, Franklin, and defensive coordinator Tom Allen moving forward.
As Penn State prepares for the upcoming game against Kent State and the subsequent Big Ten schedule, two key questions arise: how will the team compensate for Winston’s absence, and what exactly does “long-term” entail?
What Does Long-Term Mean?
Determining the specifics of KJ Winston’s injury is challenging at this stage, yet it’s crucial for assessing Penn State’s prospects in the Big Ten and potential College Football Playoff (CFP) implications. A long-term injury to a defensive star like Winston highlights his significance to both the defense and the overall team. While Franklin likely would have indicated if the injury were season-ending, he didn’t do so, leaving the timeline for Winston’s return uncertain. The sooner he can come back, the better for Penn State.
“Long-term” could mean a four-week absence, which would have Winston potentially returning in time for the game against USC. This would mean he misses the Kent State, Illinois, and UCLA games, which are likely wins for the team. While his absence would be felt, it wouldn’t be catastrophic for Penn State.
On the other hand, if “long-term” extends to six weeks, Winston could be back after the second bye week, making his return possible for the game against Wisconsin. He would only miss the USC matchup, which would be a tough challenge, but he’d be available for the crucial later games.
If the injury stretches to ten weeks, the scenario changes significantly. In this case, Winston would only return for the final two regular-season games against Minnesota and Maryland, missing not just the previously mentioned games but also matchups against Ohio State, Washington, and Purdue.
In all these hypothetical timelines, Winston would be back for the postseason, which could include the Big Ten Championship and the CFP. However, his injury makes an already challenging path to those goals even tougher for Penn State.
How Will Penn State Replace Winston’s Production?
Winston was a key player for the Penn State defense, not only for his skills on the field but also for his leadership. At the start of the season, the safety position was a strength for the team, with defensive coordinator Tom Allen relying on Winston and Jaylen Reed to lead the unit. However, this strategy was effective for only about a game and a half before a reevaluation was necessary. Winston’s long-term injury necessitates adjustments in game planning moving forward.
Allen had been implementing a hybrid 4-2-5 defense featuring two linebackers and five defensive backs as the base setup. The talents of Winston, Reed, and Zakee Wheatley had enabled Allen to use formations with three safeties. While the defense may still use this alignment, freshman safety Dejuan Lane is now expected to see increased playing time.
Another option for Allen is to shift to a more traditional 4-3 formation, which would involve two safeties and three linebackers. In this setup, the linebacking trio would likely include Tony Rojas, Dom DeLuca, and Kobe King, with King taking on the role of middle linebacker and relaying play calls from the sideline.
Replacing Winston’s impact will be a challenge in either scenario. Penn State will have their first test this weekend against Kent State, a game anticipated to serve as a warm-up before the Big Ten schedule begins. This situation presents a valuable opportunity for players like Lane to gain experience, especially with a potential Top 25 matchup against Illinois looming the following week.
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