Wilson carted off after breaking leg against Youngstown State

Updated: September 1, 2007, 4:28 PM ET

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Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Starting defensive end Lawrence Wilson broke his right leg midway through the second quarter of No. 11 Ohio State's season-opening 38-6 victory over Youngstown State and will likely miss the next six to eight weeks.

Coach Jim Tressel said he was awaiting word from doctors on the severity of the fracture.

Wilson was hurt on a Youngstown State pass completion with the Buckeyes leading 14-0. He lay on his back, writhing in pain while being attended to by doctors. He was taken off the field on a motorized cart.

"That would be a terrific loss," Tressel said. "Lawrence Wilson's a good player. He's an enthusiastic guy, he gets riled up and fired up. He's one of those guys who's played enough to be a leader."

Wilson, a 6-foot-6, 276-pound junior, grabbed the starting job last spring and was expected to be a force up front for the Buckeyes. A year ago he had 17 tackles including five for negative yardage with three sacks.

Redshirt freshman Rob Rose replaced Wilson against Youngstown.