Ohio State football | Branden Bowen says third leg surgery will sideline him for season

Ohio State coaches have been tight-lipped about the status of offensive guard Branden Bowen, but Bowen hasn’t.

He released a social media message Thursday afternoon revealing he just underwent a third surgery in the wake of the broken lower left leg he suffered midway through last season. The junior is expected to miss this season.

“Third time’s a charm,” Bowen wrote on his Instagram account, the message accompanying a picture of him in a hospital bed. “This past year has been by far the most challenging year of my life.

“I found out a couple weeks ago that my fibula hadn’t fully healed, and was not connected (known as a non-union), and would most likely never fully heal on its own.”

He went into preseason expecting challenge for the starting job at right guard he held before the injury last year.

“I tried to play through this for a while, but the pain became too much as it was affecting how I was playing, from running, to simply taking my steps as an offensive lineman,” Bowen wrote. “As frustrating as this injury has been, I know it’s going to make me stronger after it’s all said and done.

“I know God has a plan for me. I’ll be back and better than ever.”

tmay@dispatch.com

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