Derek Moye, Penn State's top receiver, is expected to miss at least two games after suffering a broken bone in his left foot when he slipped on stairs in his apartment Tuesday night.
Penn State confirmed the injury Thursday afternoon, and a university statement said Moye broke the fifth metatarsal bone in his foot (see graphic for location). He's wearing a protective boot but will not need surgery and could return to action Oct. 29 against Illinois.
Moye leads the team in catches (28), yards (485) and touchdowns (3), and now a Penn State offense that has struggled all season will have to find a way to get by without him this week against Purdue and next week at Northwestern.
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"We're going to have to run the ball a little bit more, obviously," quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno said Thursday night on PSU's weekly call-in radio show.
Justin Brown is second on the team with 19 catches, but no one else has more than nine.
"When you look at our wideout group, I think the good thing is that we've developed some depth there," Paterno said. "[Mike McQueary has] done a great job with those guys, and those guys work hard.
"Devon Smith, I think, will step up, and I think that Justin Brown's got to pick it up. Allen Robinson, who's a freshman, has had a good week, and Brandon [Moseby-Felder] has had a really, really good week."
SUBHD: Injury update
CB D'Anton Lynn (concussion), CB Stephon Morris (ankle) and RB Brandon Beachum (foot) have practiced this week and should be able to play against Purdue, according to a Penn State press release Thursday.
SUBHD: Screen test
It's probably obvious to everyone that Penn State has struggled throwing screen passes this year, and Jay Paterno didn't refute that when asked Thursday on the radio.
"They have been terrible, I will give you that," he said.
"We'll continue to work on them because that's got to be part of our offense," he added.
Cory Giger can be reached at 949-7031 and cgsports12@aol.com.
