Penn State entered the locker room with a 17-7 halftime lead over Boise State and a looming question mark entering the final two quarters of Tuesday’s Fiesta Bowl. Will standout defensive end Abdul Carter return to action?
Carter, who was named the Big Ten’s defensive player of the year this season, was banged up on Boise State’s third-and-11 pass attempt on its opening drive of the second quarter. He went to the medical tent, missed the first two plays of the Nittany Lions’ next defensive series, played one snap and returned to the medical tent afterward.
Carter did not play another snap in the second quarter. He biked for a moment behind the team’s benches, then stood on the sideline with his helmet off for the remainder of the quarter. When Penn State returned to the field for second half warmups, Carter ran out without a helmet and wasn’t moving his left arm.
James Franklin was not asked by ESPN about Carter’s status as he trotted off the field for the halftime break.
Carter is anticipated to become a first-round NFL Draft pick this spring. He has 11 sacks and 22 tackles for loss across 14 games this season.
In his place, fellow starter Dani Dennis-Sutton, reserves Amin Vanover and Smith Vilbert and true freshman Max Granville led the way at defensive end. Granville, who reclassified this past offseason and should be a high school senior, had previously played in just four games this season.
