Penn State's Moye expected to miss two games

Standout wide receiver Derek Moye broke the fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot Tuesday night and is expected to miss Penn State's next two games, the school announced Thursday afternoon. The injury occurred when Moye slipped on the stairs at his apartment after dinner on Tuesday. His injury will not require surgery, Penn State Director of Athletic Medicine Wayne Sebastianelli said in a press release.

The loss of Moye, who leads the team with 28 receptions, 485 receiving yards and three touchdowns, is a big one for the Nittany Lions. The senior and team co-captain ranks fifth in the Big Ten in receiving yards and sixth in receptions.

Moye is third all-time at Penn State with 2,226 receiving yards, fourth with 18 touchdowns and fifth with 132 receptions.

Starters Justin Brown and Shawney Kersey (Woodbury High School), as well as the speedy Devon Smith, will be called upon to help fill the void left by Moye, a starter in every game since the 2009 season opener.

Penn State (5-1, 2-0 Big Ten) hosts Purdue (3-2, 1-0) on Saturday before traveling to Evanston, Ill. to take on Northwestern (2-3, 0-2) on Oct. 22. The target date for Moye's return is Oct. 29 at home against No. 16 Illinois (6-0, 2-0).

With the bad break for Penn State also comes some positive news for the team. Cornerbacks D'Anton Lynn, Stephon Morris and running back Brandon Beachum practiced this week and are expected to be available to play against the Boilermakers on Saturday, Penn State announced.

Lynn, a senior and three-year starter, missed two straight games with a head injury sustained in the team's win against Eastern Michigan on Sept. 24. Morris, a junior, was held out against Iowa after he tweaked his ankle against Indiana the week before, while Beachum also missed three consecutive games, nursing a sprained right foot.

--Jake Kaplan