Purdue’s plans for their showdown at UCLA this Saturday just got a massive gut punch, and honestly, it’s a total bummer. Can you believe it? Returning starting left tackle Joey Tanona is officially **OUT**, a huge downgrade from his “doubtful” status earlier in the week. Talk about a brutal blow for the Boilermakers, especially when you consider this guy played the most snaps of anyone on offense last season. We’re talking about a serious, *serious* hole to fill against a tough opponent on the road. This isn’t just a regular backup; this is a foundational piece.
The Big Man Is Down: What Tanona’s Absence Means for the O-Line
Losing Tanona is no small thing, folks. This guy, a Zionsville grad, is a cornerstone for that Purdue offense. He has been battling an ankle sprain that tragically kept him sidelined for the back half of preseason camp. Remember when Coach Barry Odom was initially optimistic that Tanona would be back for the first game week, ready to get after it? Man, that feels like a lifetime ago now. Here we are, already three games deep into the season, and he has yet to play a single snap. It’s gotta be incredibly frustrating for him personally, and a massive headache for the coaching staff, watching such a key player stuck on the sidelines. Nuku Mafi is now set to make his third straight start in Tanona’s place, which just hammers home how long this injury has lingered. On the brighter side, starting left guard Brock Brownfield has thankfully not appeared on the availability report at all, so he should be good to go. At least that’s one less worry for an offensive line that’s already got its hands full.
Boilermaker Sidelines Getting Crowded, and It’s Not a Good Look
And guess what? It’s not just Tanona either. Defensive end Elo Modozie, who was previously listed as “questionable,” has also been downgraded to **OUT**. Modozie, a transfer from Georgia, did see 17 defensive snaps in the season opener against Indiana State, but then only eight snaps last week against Wake Forest. While his snap count might not be as high as Tanona’s, any loss on the defensive line hurts, especially early in the season when everyone’s trying to find their rhythm. The injury list gets even longer, too. Starting nickel Mister Clark has been out all week, along with tight end Kylan Fox and defensive back Raderrion Daniels. It’s even worse for Fox and Daniels, who were actually declared out for the entire season previously. It’s a real gauntlet for the Boilermakers with so many key guys missing already. You have to wonder how much this deep roster hit impacts their game plan, their morale, everything.
Meanwhile, UCLA has their own injury headaches, so it’s not just a one-sided issue. Their availability report lists receivers Mikey Matthews (out) and Aiden Mizell (doubtful), tight end Josh Phifer (doubtful), and safety Tao Johnson (out). Every team deals with injuries, sure, but losing your starting left tackle is just a different beast entirely. This Saturday’s game at UCLA is gonna be a real test of depth, grit, and strategy for Purdue. They’ll need Mafi to step up big time, and the whole offense to rally without their key protector. Can they overcome these early season injury woes and grab a crucial road win? We’ll all be watching, hoping for the best when the final whistle blows!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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