Ohio State opened preseason training camp on Thursday morning, practicing on two fields outside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. Here are four instant notes and observations about the Buckeyes’ offense:

Ohio State offensive line positioning

Carson Hinzman, a redshirt sophomore who has been expected to be in the mix to start at center and right guard, was not seen at practice.

Coach Ryan Day said in a news conference following practice that Hinzman was held out due to an illness and is expected to return on Friday.

While Hinzman was the Buckeyes’ starting center last season, they brought in Seth McLaughlin as a transfer from Alabama in January.

More on 2024 Ohio State training camp: WATCH: Ohio State's Ryan Day holds first press conference of 2024 training camp

McLaughlin made 25 starts in the middle of the Crimson Tide’s offensive line.

When the Buckeyes split their offensive linemen into two teams for 11-on-11 periods, McLaughlin and redshirt freshman Josh Padilla lined up at center.

Luke Montgomery and Tegra Tshabola were positioned as the right guards. Tshabola was between McLaughlin and Josh Fryar, the returning starting right tackle.

Quarterback rotation

Devin Brown and Will Howard were the first quarterbacks to lead the split squads during the 11-on-11 periods.

The Buckeyes rotated their five scholarship quarterbacks through drills, which also included 7-on-7 throwing sessions.

Day said last week that the Buckeyes would begin to be more deliberate about reps after the first four practices.

Highlight catches

Wide receiver Carnell Tate and tight end Jelani Thurman each made an impressive catch during a 7-on-7 period.

Tate leapt in the air along the sideline to catch a pass over Ryan Rudzinski, a walk-on safety. On the next play, Thurman laid out onto the ground to catch a throw from Howard.

Status of Brandon Inniss

Brandon Inniss was practicing with his right foot wrapped in tape.

Inniss, a sophomore wide receiver, suffered a hairline fracture in his right foot in March that sidelined him for the end of spring practice, but he had been cleared to return.

He told The Dispatch last month that he felt he had returned to full strength since the setback.

Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @joeyrkaufman or email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Observations on Ohio State's football offense from first camp practice