Ohio State-Wisconsin: 2 key Buckeyes back, 2 others game-time decisions

COLUMBUS — Ohio State listed Jonathon Cooper and Austin Mack as game-time decisions in its weekly injury report.

Cooper, a senior defensive end and captain, missed the first four games of the season recovering from a severely sprained ankle.

He has 10.5 career tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks, though none have come this season.

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Sophomore Tyreke Smith would likely start in his place with redshirt freshmen Javontae Jean-Baptiste and Alex Williams and true freshman Zach Harrison also part of a rotation with starter Chase Young.

Mack, a senior receiver and three-year starter, has played in all seven games so far after missing the end of last season with a foot injury and dealing with a hamstring issue during preseason camp.

He is coming off his best game of the season, a four-catch, 50-yard performance at Northwestern that included his second touchdown catch of the season.

His absence would mean more time for sophomore Chris Olave at the team’s X receiver (flanker) position and likely more snaps overall members of a deep rotation that includes starters K.J. Hill and Binjimen Victor as well as Jaylen Harris, Jaelen Gill, Garrett Wilson and Jameson Williams.

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Two players are also notable for their absence from the injury report: Thayer Munford, the team’s left tackle who was slowed last week by an unidentified injury, and linebacker Baron Browning, who did not play in the Buckeyes’ 52-3 win at Northwestern;

Teradja Mitchell, a reserve linebacker who has impressed off the bench and on special teams, is also a game-time decision. He has not played the past three games.

Ten players are listed as out for the Wisconsin game: backup offensive tackle Josh Alabi, defensive tackles Noah Donald and Taron Vincent, defensive ends Tyler Friday and Noah Potter, tight end Cormontae Hamilton, safety Ronnie Hickman and receivers C.J. Saunders, Kamryn Babb and Ellijah Gardiner.

Injuries were not identified for any of the players.