Penn State's Kaden Saunders Availability Uncertain for WVU Opener

Key Points

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Kaden Saunders is a starting safety for the Penn State Nittany Lions.

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Saunders suffered a head injury that kept him out of the final five games of the 2022 season.

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Penn State will open the 2023 season against West Virginia on September 2nd.

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Saunders has been cleared for contact but will wear a guardian cap for the first two weeks of the season as a safety precaution.

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His status for the September 2nd season opener against West Virginia is still uncertain.

Kaden Saunders Injury and Recovery

Kaden Saunders suffered a head injury in the eighth game of the 2022 season against Ohio State. The injury kept him out of the final five games of the season, including the bowl game. Saunders has been cleared for contact and has been practicing with the team this spring. However, he will wear a guardian cap for the first two weeks of the season as a safety precaution. The guardian cap is a soft-shelled helmet that is designed to reduce the risk of concussions.

Availability for WVU Opener

Saunders' availability for the season opener against West Virginia is still uncertain. Head coach James Franklin said that Saunders will be a game-time decision. If Saunders is unable to play, it would be a big loss for the Penn State defense. Saunders is a starting safety and one of the team's best tacklers.

Penn State's Defense Without Saunders

If Saunders is unable to play, Penn State will have to rely on other players to step up in the secondary. Ji'Ayir Brown is the other starting safety and he is a talented player. However, he is still relatively inexperienced. Penn State also has a few other safeties on the roster who could see increased playing time if Saunders is out. These players include Keaton Ellis, Zakee Wheatley, and Jaylen Reed.

Conclusion

Kaden Saunders is a key player for the Penn State defense. His availability for the season opener against West Virginia is still uncertain. If Saunders is unable to play, it would be a big loss for the Nittany Lions. However, Penn State has other players who could step up in his absence.