This post has been updated from its original form
Latest update: Josiah Zayas has returned to the game
Josiah Zayas has been an integral piece of D’Anton Lynn’s defense all season, but he stepped into an even bigger role against USC in Week 6 with Zion Tracy moving back to safety. Zayas is now the primary starter at nickel, but in the fourth quarter, with Penn State trailing 24-23 and USC driving, he was unable to hobble to the sideline after suffering an apparent injury.
Zayas eventually limped off under his own power after being tended to by the training staff.
Penn State DB Josiah Zayas is down.
— Joe Smeltzer (@joesmeltzer775) October 11, 2026
Limps off under his own power.
With Zayas out, Tracy may move back to nickel, making way for Marcus Neal Jr., who was benched after beginning the year as a starter at safety, to see more snaps in a rotation with Jamison Patton and Jeremiah Cooper.
Zayas did not appear to be contacted on the play, and when he went to the sideline, he reportedly slammed his helmet down in frustration, according to Lions247's Daniel Gallen. Zayas has been a promising young piece for the Penn State defense and was seemingly poised for a larger workload going forward.
Josiah Zayas injury update:
Zayas left the field under his own power after being tended to by the Penn State training staff in the fourth quarter against USC. Zayas returned to the field in the fourth quarter for Penn State.
Josiah Zayas injury likely to move Zion Tracy back to the slot
Zayas has made some significant splash plays for the Penn State defense this year, including a pick-six in his Big Ten debut against Wisconsin. The three-star true freshman shot his way up the depth chart in fall camp. Much of his impact has been made playing downhill as a run-fitter from the secondary.
Zayas is still a work in progress in coverage, and USC true freshman wide receiver Trent Mosely exposed that on Saturday night, including on a 21-yard reception over Zayas the play before Zayas left the field.
With Zayas down, Tracy immediately went back to the nickel, but was unable to stay with true freshman wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt on a crossing route for a 10-yard touchdown. It appears that Tracy, who was moved to safety for Week 6 after experimenting as an outside corner earlier this year, will be back in his natural position going forward.
Patton is third on the team in slot snaps and Tony Rojas and Jeremiah Cooper are tied for fourth. Neither are an option as a full-time slot, so D'Anton Lynn could call upon Xxavier Thomas or Tyrell Chatman if he needs an additional player at nickel to spell Tracy, or if he'd prefer to keep Tracy at safety.
Add us as a preferred source on Google