COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes have likely lost defensive tackle Tracy Sprinkle for the season after the junior was carted to the locker room with a patella tendon injury Saturday, coach Urban Meyer said.
Sprinkle was injured during the first half of the Buckeyes' season-opening 77-10 victory against Bowling Green. A source indicated Sprinkle could be facing surgery as early as Sunday.
"Patella tendon injury is what they're telling me, which is not good," Meyer said after the game. "It's a surgery and a season-ender is what I've been told.
"... That's the worst part of this darned game is when a guy gets hurt, especially a guy who has committed so much to this team and the program. Our prayers are with Tracy."
Sprinkle played all 13 games for the Buckeyes last season as a reserve, making four tackles and recovering a fumble. He was expected to take on a much larger role this season for an Ohio State defensive line that had to replace both interior linemen and star pass-rusher Joey Bosa.