Penn State continues to get hit with a wave of injuries, but this one might be among the most important.
Sean Clifford went to the medical tent during the second quarter of the No. 4 Nittany Lions' matchup against No. 3 Iowa before later heading to the locker room. It is unclear at this point what the injury might be, though he took a big hit on his previous drive.
Sean Clifford heading back to the locker room.
— Logan Reever (@loganreever) October 9, 2021
Here's the hit from his last series #PennState pic.twitter.com/HIOpIDX6Jm
Coming out of the locker room at halftime, Clifford returned to the sidelines in street clothes as he will not return to the game.
Penn State won't have Sean Clifford for the second half. He just came out of the tunnel with no uniform on and a wrapped right arm.
— Greg Pickel (@GregPickel) October 9, 2021
MORE: Penn State vs. Iowa live score, updates
After the game, coach James Franklin said that he did not have an update on Clifford's injury.
Franklin said he has no update on Sean Clifford’s status moving forward.
— Onward State (@OnwardState) October 10, 2021
“I have a hard time with our players getting hurt…and to all the Iowa people out there: that’s not a part of our plan.”
During that drive, he threw three incomplete passes after driving Penn State to the Iowa 14-yard line, and the Nittany Lions were forced to kick a field goal.
Before leaving the game, Clifford had staked Penn State out to a 17-3 lead. He completed 15-of-25 passes for 146 yards with no touchdown passes and two interceptions, and he rushed three times for 36 yards with a score.
MORE: How Caleb Williams, Sooners changed Red River Showdown, Big 12 race and more in 55-48 thriller
Redshirt sophomore Ta'Quan Roberson came in for Clifford. This season, Roberson has completed 4-of-7 passes for 51 yards with a touchdown. According to 247Sports' Composite Rankings, he was the No. 247 national player in the 2019 calss and the No. 8 dual-threat quarterback.
On Roberson's first drive of the game, he fumbled the first snap and nearly threw an interception on the second play he led. Penn State was then called for three false start penalties before a a short gain of three yards on a rush by Keyvone Lee for a three-and-out.
MORE: No. 17 Ole Miss beats No. 13 Arkansas on final player after wild fourth quarter
Earlier in the game, wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith had to leave the game with a lower body injury after making a 30-yard catch in the first quarter to spot Penn State at the Iowa 7-yard line. The Nittany Lions scored two plays later when Clifford ran into the end zone from four yards out. Lambert-Smith later returned to the game.
This post will be updated.
