ARLINGTON, Texas — Part of Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka’s recovery from an ankle injury earlier this year included surgery, an indication it was more severe than previously revealed.

Speaking with reporters two days ahead of the Cotton Bowl, Egbuka said he underwent a procedure known as tightrope surgery on his left ankle after he injured it in a win over Maryland in October.

It is an increasingly common arthroscopic procedure to treat high ankle sprains in which a device is attached to the lower fibula and tibia bones in order to accelerate rehabilitation. Georgia tight end Brock Bowers had the same surgery this past fall.

“I thought it was pretty neat that you could do that,” Egbuka said.

Egbuka, a prolific complement to Marvin Harrison Jr., missed only three games as a result of the injury and returned last month.

He said he is thankful for Adam Groth, the orthopedic surgeon at the university’s Wexner Medical Center who performed the operation.

“He got me right,” Egbuka said. “He did a phenomenal job in there, and shout-out to all the athletic trainers who let me rehab this thing.”

As a sophomore last fall, Egbuka became only the ninth 1,000-yard receiver in school history. As he recovered from the setback, he was not quite as productive, catching 35 passes for 452 yards and four touchdowns in 2023.

“It’s been a no-joke injury,” Egbuka said, “but I’m grateful for all the trials and tribulations it’s brought.”

He added, “It feels great now.”

Egbuka could be the Buckeyes’ No. 1 receiver when they face Missouri on Friday. Signs point to Harrison, the newly minted Biletnikoff Award winner as the top receiver in the nation, opting out of the bowl game.

In periods of practice this week in which reporters have been present, Harrison has not been a participant, watching only in his jersey and sweats without a helmet.

Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch and can be reached at jkaufman@dispatch.com.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football receiver Emeka Egbuka had surgery on injured ankle