Why Penn State football will miss top two players vs Purdue in Big Ten

Penn State’s four-game losing streak will test depth and receiver options when it hosts Purdue on Saturday in Beaver Stadium, with two of its top playmakers ruled out. Sophomore wideout Koby Howard will miss his fifth straight game due to an undisclosed injury, and senior receiver Chase Sowell is also unavailable, according to the Big Ten’s pregame availability report. Penn State will still be missing more than a dozen players overall, but losing Howard and Sowell is a major concern given limited proven production at receiver. Purdue features one of the nation’s worst pass defenses, putting pressure on PSU’s struggling offense and quarterback Rocco Becht. Cam Smith is hoped to return, while Marcus Neal, Jr. is expected to bolster linebacker depth.