Bosa stops by for visit at Buckeyes’ practice

Chase Young and his fellow Ohio State defensive linemen welcomed their captain, Nick Bosa, back to practice on Tuesday.

Bosa didn’t participate in workouts, however. He still is less than two weeks removed from the surgery done in Philadelphia by Dr. William Meyers to repair the core muscle injury he suffered during the win over TCU on Sept.15. He is out indefinitely, but he returned to mingle and converse with teammates as they prepped for Saturday’s homecoming game with Indiana.

“It’s going to be a while (before he can return); we’re going to hold it down till he gets back,” said Young, one of the heroes in the Buckeyes’ 27-26 win at Penn State last week. “Obviously we can’t wait until he gets back. He’s a big part of this defense, the leader of this defense.”

But Bosa’s situation could be more complicated than just getting cleared. He is considered to be one of the possible top three players for the 2019 NFL draft, should he opt to leave after this season, and his market value is in the $30 million-plus range based on what top-end picks gained from the 2018 draft. Defensive line coach Larry Johnson knows that.

“I’m going to listen to the father and the mom,” Johnson said. “We’re going to talk somewhere down the road. But right now … I’m just here to listen, to give them my opinion. But I’m certainly not going to be the guy to make the decision of what he does with his future. That’s up to the family.”

Besides, Johnson said the subject of when or if Bosa might return to the OSU lineup hasn’t come up yet. As Bosa’s father, John, told The Dispatch last week, that can’t be discussed until after Nick is examined in November by his surgeon.

“We just want him to get healthy,” Johnson said. “That’s the biggest thing right now.”

Redshirt freshman defensive back Shaun Wade is seeing more time as the season progresses, entering as the Buckeyes’ nickel back but also getting work at safety in practice. A five-star signee to the 2017 recruiting class, he was sidelined last season by an abdominal injury, which he said has made him eager to play wherever the coaches want.

“I just want to help the team, to be honest,” Wade said. “If they need me at safety, I’ll play safety.”

He might see more time there this week, at least early, because last week’s starter, Isaiah Pryor, must sit out the first half against Indiana after being called for targeting — and being ejected — in the fourth quarter at Penn State. Jahsen Wint, the other contender at that spot opposite Jordan Fuller, finished the game.