Ohio State fans got a moment of panic in their Week 11 game when they saw Carnell Tate standing on the sideline with his helmet in hand during the Buckeyes’ opening drive against Purdue. The sophomore wide receiver, who’s been one of the most reliable targets alongside Jeremiah Smith, wasn’t on the field for what seemed like no apparent reason.

According to On3’s Pete Nakos, Tate was held out as a precautionary measure after feeling tight during warmups. The broadcast picked up on it immediately, noting that Tate had some discomfort before kickoff that led the coaching staff to be extra cautious with their star receiver. 

The decision makes sense when you’re the No. 1 team in the country playing a 2-7 Purdue team that you’re expected to beat by 40 points. Why risk aggravating something that could turn into a bigger problem down the road? Tate was suited up and on the sideline, so it wasn’t a serious injury situation, just the Buckeyes being smart about managing their assets in a game they didn’t need him to win.