No flag thrown for contact on punter Gabe Nwosu: Latest injury update

After a failed third-and-seven attempt, kicker Gabe Nwosu was sent out to punt the ball away for Penn State. The senior was hit on the 39-yard punt and stayed on the ground for a few moments. There was no penalty flag thrown for the contact on the kicker.

Nwosu stood up and walked to the sidelines under his own power, according to reporters in East Lansing. He was slow to make his way into the medical tent, but returned quickly. Nwosu was seen jumping on the sidelines, shaking the hit off.

Gabe Nwosu goes down after first quarter punt, but comes out of medical tent preparing to return to field

If Nwosu is shaken up and takes a step back at any point on Saturday, punter Riley Thompson will likely step into his spot. Nwosu beat Thompson out for the starting role before the start of the season.

Thompson has yet to punt for Penn State in 2025. In 2024, Thompson had 51 punts for 2,183 yards and an average of 42.8 yards per punt. His longest came against Boise State in the College Football Playoff First Round for 63 yards. The Nittany Lions won 38-10.

After earning his starting spot over the summer, Nwosu was put out on the field 26 times so far in 2025, not including Saturday's game against Michigan State. He has a 46-yard average per punt with a long of 67. Over his 26 punts, Nwosu accumulated 1,197 yards, becoming a critical piece of the Nittany Lions' special teams success.

Both Penn State and Michigan State are taking an aggressive approach on fourth down. Nwosu punted twice for the Nittany Lions, including the kick he was hit on. As the Nittany Lions and Spartans are taking advantage of fourth down opportunities, Nwosu will have more time to bounce back from the contact before putting himself back on the field.

Gabe Nwosu returns to field for first time since contact

To start the second half, Nwosu took to the field for kickoff. He sent the ball 65 yards to the Spartans, putting it into the end zone for a Michigan State touchback.