Why Carnell Tate is not playing for Ohio State vs Purdue; is he injured? New details emerge

Carnell Tate is one of Ohio's most promising wide receivers this season. However, to several fans' disappointment, the 20-year-old did not start against Purdue

Updated on: Nov 9, 2025, 24:50:40 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Carnell Tate is one of Ohio's most promising wide receivers this season. However, to several fans' disappointment, the 20-year-old did not start against Purdue on Saturday.

Wide receiver Carnell Tate #17 of the Ohio State Buckeyes catches a 49 yard pass for a touchdown (Getty Images via AFP)

Despite being suited up and standing on the sideline with his helmet, Tate did not take the field during the Buckeyes’ opening drive. Observers quickly noticed his absence, sparking questions about his status. “Is he injured?” one fan asked on social media.

“There’s no official word on why Tate isn’t playing,” one team reporter posted on X, platform formerly known as Twitter. “He’s in uniform, but he just watched the offense’s first series from the sideline.”

“Carnell Tate is smiling, I think he’s good,” another person tweeted.

Ohio State, a heavy favorite over Purdue, didn’t appear to suffer offensively without him early on. Still, given Tate’s importance to the Buckeyes’ passing attack, and his reputation as one of college football’s rising stars, his lack of participation raised eyebrows across social media.

For now, the reason behind Tate’s limited action remains unclear.

Ohio State Buckeyes depth chart

Wide Receiver (WR-X)

Carnell Tate (#17, JR)

Quincy Porter (#11, FR)

David Adolph (#82, RS JR)

Wide Receiver (WR-Z)

Jeremiah Smith (#4, SO)

Mylan Graham (#5, RS FR)

Slot Receiver (WR-SL)

Brandon Inniss (#1, JR)

Bryson Rodgers (#13, RS SO)

Phillip Bell (#7, FR)

Left Tackle (LT)

Austin Siereveld (#67, RS SO)

Ian Moore (#69, RS FR)

Carter Lowe (#74, FR)

Left Guard (LG)

Luke Montgomery (#51, JR)

Gabe VanSickle (#58, RS FR)

Jake Cook (#76, FR)

Devontae Armstrong (#73, RS FR)

Center (C)

Carson Hinzman (#75, RS JR)

Joshua Padilla (#62, RS SO)

Isaiah Kema (#56, FR)

Simon Lorentz (#64, RS FR)

Right Guard (RG)

Tegra Tshabola (#77, RS JR)

Ethan Onianwa (#78, RS SR/TR)

Jayvon McFadden (#71, FR)

Right Tackle (RT)

Phillip Daniels (#70, RS SO/TR)

Justin Terry (#65, RS FR/TR)

Deontae Armstrong (#72, RS FR)

Tight End (TE)

Max Klare (#86, RS JR/TR)

Will Kacmarek (#89, RS SR/TR)

Bennett Christian (#85, RS JR)

Jelani Thurman (#15, RS SO)

Nate Roberts (#83, FR)

Quarterback (QB)

Julian Sayin (#10, RS FR)

Lincoln Kienholz (#3, RS SO)

Tavien St. Clair (#9, FR)

Eli Brickhandler (#6, GR/TR)

Running Back (RB)

Bo Jackson (#25, FR)

CJ Donaldson (#12, SR/TR)

James Peoples (#20, RS SO)

Isaiah West (#32, FR)

Sam Dixon (#24, RS FR)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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