Ohio State updates status of Nick Bosa

Ohio State announced the news Buckeye fans hoped not to hear: Nick Bosa had surgery.

The junior defensive end is out indefinitely after having “a core muscle injury” repaired Thursday.

The 2017 All-American was injured in the second half Saturday night as the fourth-ranked Buckeyes beat No. 15 TCU in Arlington, Texas.

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Bosa was injured on the third play of the third quarter.

He went to the ground trying to get around TCU left tackle  Austin Myers in pursuit of the quarterback on a third-and-long and signaled for trainers to come look at his midsection.

Bosa was able to leave the field under his own power but eventually went to the locker room. When he returned, he was in street clothes and limping noticeably.

The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native was off to a big start to what is widely expected to be his last season of college football, having already recorded four sacks among six tackles for loss.

He forced a fumble early in the TCU game that led directly to an Ohio State touchdown and scored a touchdown in the Buckeyes’ season-opener when he pounced on a fumble in the end zone.

Jonathon Cooper, a junior from Gahanna, Ohio, is expected to replace Bosa in the starting lineup.

“Jonathan has always been one of the hardest-working guys on our football team,” Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano said. “Along with that as the time has rolled by, he’s become a better and better defensive end, so I’m excited about seeing him go play more.”

Cooper has five tackles, including a sack, this season. He was already part of a rotation with Bosa and Chase Young.

“The production may be not so big, but he’s really played hard and played well,” Schiano said. “I think as he gets more opportunities that will lead to more production.”

In 30 games at Ohio State, Bosa has 29 tackles for loss, including 17.5 sacks.

The Buckeyes fake on Tulane on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Ohio Stadium.

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