Ohio State football injury update: Cornerback Denzel Burke to return in CFP final.
ATLANTA — Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke expects to play in the College Football Playoff final against Notre Dame on Monday.
“I’ll be good,” Burke said.
Burke, who has started since he was a freshman in 2021, was sidelined with an injury late in the second quarter of their semifinal win over Texas last week and did not return.
He landed directly on his left arm while attempting to trip up receiver Silas Bolden, who slipped away for a gain of 18 yards and set up the Longhorns for their first touchdown.
Buckeyes coach Ryan Day previously described Burke’s injury as one involving an upper extremity. During a media day on Saturday, Burke declined to specify the exact nature of the issue.
“I don’t want to put it out there,” Burke said.
Burke said the extremity was aggravated twice against Texas, including on the missed tackle of Bolden that saw him hit the AT&T Stadium turf.
The sequence resulted in Burke retreating to the sideline, and the staff determined it would be best to keep Jermaine Mathews Jr. in his place.
“I was out for a reason,” Burke said, “just being safe and for the betterment of the team and my future.”
Since Burke experienced arguably the worst game of his career in a loss at Oregon in October, burned by Tez Johnson and Evan Stewart for touchdowns, he has bounced back.
Burke has not allowed a touchdown in pass coverage over the past nine games, according to Pro Football Focus, and only one reception during the postseason.
