Ohio State knew as early as January 16, and if not then, it certainly knew on April 18, that quarterback Justin Fields was the one player it could not afford to lose to an injury this season. But although the Buckeyes had a cognitive awareness — first when Tate Martell entered the transfer portal two weeks after the Rose Bowl, and three months later when Matthew Baldwin did the same — it didn’t fully know until Aug. 31 how essential it would be to keep Fields healthy. That’s the day Fields sped 51 yards for a touchdown on the Buckeyes’ fourth offensive snap in their season-opener against Florida Atlantic. Before that first quarter ended, Fields would throw three touchdown passes to complete a 28-point barrage in his first 15 minutes of action in his first college start. Right then, all the concern head coach Ryan Day confessed about keeping Fields…
Continue Reading: It Would be Smart for Ohio State to Rest Justin Fields vs. Wisconsin
