Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa underwent surgery on Thursday morning for a core muscle injury he suffered in last Saturday's 40-28 win over TCU, Urban Meyer said Thursday on his radio show on 97.1 The Fan.

Meyer did not provide a projected timetable for his recovery, though Bosa had already been ruled out for this week's game against Tulane.

"I just talked to his father maybe 20 minutes ago, and we hope to get him back as soon as possible," Meyer said. "We're not sure when that will be. A lot of it's obviously the recovery, and obviously one of the best players in football, but even a better person, and a better family."

Core muscle injuries, which are often called sports hernias, often require a recovery of at least four to six weeks after surgery, which could keep Bosa out until November.

Ohio State now faces the likelihood of playing one of its biggest games of the year – at Penn State next Saturday (Sept. 29) – without one of its best players. The Buckeyes are also set to play Indiana on Oct. 6 and Minnesota on Oct. 13 at home, and Purdue on Oct. 20 on the road, then have a bye week before returning to play Nebraska on Nov. 3.

Jonathon Cooper and Chase Young will be the Buckeyes' starting defensive ends with Bosa sidelined. Jashon Cornell, Tyreke Smith and Tyler Friday are among the other defensive ends who could see increased playing time in the rotation as a result of Bosa's injury.

Saturday's game will be only the second time since the start of the 2013 season that Ohio State will play a game without a Bosa brother on the field. Before Nick Bosa's arrival at Ohio State in 2016, Joey Bosa played in every game from 2013 to 2015 with the exception of the 2015 season opener.