LB Sabino sustains broken hand

Etienne Sabino (6) during Ohio State spring football training.

COLUMBUS -- Ohio State linebacker Etienne Sabino was wearing a cast as he watched his teammates practice in Ohio Stadium Tuesday.

Sabino, a likely starter for the Buckeyes this season, said he broke a bone in his left hand when his hand got stuck in a facemask during Saturday's scrimmage. A team doctor found the break during an examination later that evening.

Sabino, who sat out last season as a redshirt while seniors Ross Homan and Brian Rolle and current senior Andrew Sweat got most of the playing time, had surgery Sunday to repair the fracture.

The junior from Miami said he expects to miss a week of contact work while the injury starts to heal, but he does not expect it will keep him from playing in Ohio State's season-opener Sept. 3 against Akron.