The last few weeks have not been fun for Penn State redshirt freshman tight end Kyle Carter. Now, he will miss the remainder of the season after suffering an injury against Nebraska.

Carter injured his ankle late in the game against Ohio State and did not make the trip to Purdue the following week. He returned last Saturday against Nebraska and made a reception for 12 yards but suffered another injury in the second half against the Cornhuskers.

The weekly media guide classified the condition as a hand injury, but head coach Bill O’Brien would not address it specifically at his weekly press conference aside from saying Carter would be out for the final two games.

Carter greatly benefited from O’Brien’s tight end friendly system and was having a breakout campaign with 36 receptions, 453 receiving yards, and 2 touchdowns. He led the team in receiving yards in back-to-back games against Iowa and Ohio State and was only five catches away from breaking the single-season reception record for a Penn State tight end set by Andrew Quarless in 2009.

Even in Carter’s absence, the tight end position has remained effective with Matt Lehman, Jesse James, and Garry Gilliam, but Carter had become a favorite target of Matt McGloin and will definitely be missed in the passing game.

“He had an excellent season for us. Offensively, it [tight end] is the second hardest position to learn behind quarterback. You’re involved in the running game. You’re involved in protection. You’re involved in route-running. There’s so many different things you have to know, and I thought as a young player, he came in and did an excellent job,” said O’Brien.