Penn State Football: O’Brien Updates Injury Report As Syracuse Game Approaches

Bill O’Brien has brought some Bill Belichick with him to Happy Valley. Only showing his cards when he has to with the occasional sidestep here or there. Even so, the second year head coach has decided he’s ready to answer injury questions head on and wants to get the entire saga out of the way as quickly as possible.

As a result O’Brien –according to him– will start each week’s press conference with an injury update. Sure, O’Brien can still be vague about the nature of an injury, but if somebody is hurt, fans will know it. At least in theory.

So how healthy will the Nittany Lions be for week one?

“As we see it right now, Deshawn Baker, a wide receiver, will be out.  He’ll return at some point this season, but he’ll be out,” O’Brien said. ” Brad Bars is out for the season.  Kasey Gaines has a hamstring issue right now, and he’ll be limited in practice and won’t play vs. Syracuse and Evan Galimberti, who’s a freshman for us, is out right now. DaeSean Hamilton, a freshman wide receiver, is out right now, and he won’t be back for a while.”

Of that grouping, Bars is the worst of the bunch to have to lose but neither his injury nor Hamilton’s were unknown heading into this week. As for internet rumors regarding how ready offensive lineman Adam Gress will be, O’Brien shot those down.

“Adam Gress is full participation and he’ll be ready to go on Saturday,” O’Brien said. “Ben Kline is full participation and should be ready to go for the game. Garth Lakitsky, a linebacker, will not be ready for the game. Brent Wilkerson will be out for a while.  He’s had surgery and will be out for a little while. Other than that, I would say we’ve had the usual bumps and bruises, but basically that gives you an update on the injury front.”

So for the first week of the season Penn State will enter Saturday’s game healthy along the starting lineup with no major or unexpected ailments in O’Brien’s report.

The health of the team is important for any program, but as Penn State battles depth issues in the coming years every healthy body is key for the success of the season.