The Penn State wide receiver room has yet to prove itself in a game setting after failing to perform to national champion-level standards in 2024-25. Just before the Nittany Lions kick off Week 1 against Nevada at home, it was reported by On3's BlueWhite Illustrated that a second wideout will be sidelined with an unspecified, "long-term" injury.
Kaden Saunders was the first Penn State wide receiver ruled out with a "long-term" injury. Now, redshirt freshman Josiah Brown will also be out long-term.
Josiah Brown sustains his second long-term injury in two years
Brown's collegiate career has been defined by injuries so far. Before getting to campus, he tore his ACL, MCL, and meniscus early in his senior season in high school. Brown enrolled early at Penn State in January 2024 due to his non-contact right knee injury, and felt ready to compete by the time the 2024 regular season rolled around. As a precautionary decision given the severity of his knee injury, he redshirted his true freshman year.
He felt 100 percent, according to head coach James Franklin, in 2024, so the 2025 season should have been his chance to put his speed and explosiveness out on the field. There was excitement sparking for the team with the young receiver, especially as the three transfers do not have any college eligibility left after this coming season.
"[Brown's] just really getting in the fold of playing receiver for almost a full year now. And I think that he’s getting settled at the position,” receivers coach Marques Hagan said to reporters two weeks into camp. “He’s always been fast and explosive, and I think now he’s starting to really settle in on just playing the position. So, he’s had a good camp so far."
In sustaining another preseason injury, though, Brown is set back his second collegiate season and will return to the sidelines.
Josiah Brown and Kaden Saunders ruled out and trim down Penn State football's wide receiver room
Brown and Saunders were both competing for consistent roles in the wideout rotation for Penn State this season after both missed a majority of 2024. The Nittany Lions still have their three transfers, Trebor Pena, Devonte Ross, and Kyron Hudson, who will lead the wide receiver room and provide that offensive spark the team was missing last season. However, not getting game reps in for the younger receivers may be troublesome for Penn State beyond the 2025 season. After the season, Saunders will return as a redshirt senior and Brown will return as a redshirt sophomore.