Ohio State's Jae'Sean Tate was ruled out for the season Feb. 23 after suffering a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He missed the Buckeyes' final seven games of the 2015-16 season and Ohio State missed the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2008.
Tate is on track to be full-go and completely cleared for all basketball-related activities by August, he said Thursday, but in addition to the labrum injury which he has been rehabbing now for months, Tate also recently underwent a different operation on his right ankle to remove what he called "a loose piece of cartilage" that bothered him for nearly all of last season.
It was a minor procedure, but currently has Tate in a walking boot for another week or so, he said. Athletic trainer Vince O'Brien said Tate had the minor surgery three or four weeks ago and this particular injury won't affect his rehab for the shoulder injury.
Tate fully intends to be full-go within the next few weeks when August rolls around.
“It was just an ongoing thing throughout the season,” Tate said of the ankle procedure. “It wasn’t like I needed it, but it was annoying. I’m not able to be full contact until August, so I might as well get both of them knocked out in the summer. I think it was just good to do it now since I wasn’t able to practice.”
On Thursday, the media was granted access inside Ohio State's practice facility to watch Tate go through a portion of his rehab for both injuries. First, the junior forward spent roughly 20 minutes with O'Brien going through a workout on an underwater treadmill at Value City Arena. After that, Tate made his way to the weight room where he did a light workout with stretch bands and free weights to rehab his shoulder.
After the hourlong workout was completed, Tate met with the media to discuss his offseason rehab as well as a variety of other topics. A portion of the interview can be seen below while photos from Tate's workout Thursday can be seen above.
Ohio State opens the 2016-17 season Nov. 11 at Navy as part of the Veterans Classic.
