Purdue football down two starters, including captain, at Penn State

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania − The injury big giveth and it taketh away for Purdue football ahead of Saturday's kickoff at Penn State .

The Boilermakers could be without two starters against the Nittany Lions , the same week where they return two others from a long hiatus.

Receiver and captain De'Nylon Morrissette, along with safety Jaden Mangham, will not play.

Morrissette has 8 catches for 125 yards and a touchdown this season after sitting out all of 2025 after tightrope surgery to repair multiple torn ligaments in his ankle. Mangham has 30 tackles and a pass breakup in his first season with Purdue after transferring from Michigan.

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Mister Clark, who started the season opener against Indiana State and recorded five tackles, two for loss and a sack, does not appear on this week's availability report. Clark has not played since the Week 1 victory and had been sporting a brace on his wrist. Clark was a full participant during the media viewing period of Tuesday's practice.

In Clark's absence, Smiley Bradford and Winston Berglund have played the role of nickel/outside linebacker. Without Mangham, a starting safety, Clark's return gives the Boilermakers options in the secondary.

Joey Tanona, last season's starting left tackle in all 12 games, has not played this season after an ankle injury early in fall camp. This week marks the first time Tanona has not appeared on the availability report teams are required to submit for conference games. Nuku Mafi, a sophomore transfer from Oklahoma State, has started all seven games at left tackle this season.

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.