Penn State’s former football team doctor said Thursday that he filed a whistleblower lawsuit against Penn State, coach James Franklin and others because he had “significant concern for the safety of the college athlete.”

Meanwhile, Trace McSorley joined a growing number of former Penn State players who defended Franklin, saying the coach never pushed them to return too soon from injuries.

Dr. Scott Lynch, Penn State’s former director of athletic medicine, filed a civil suit Friday in Dauphin County Court alleging that Franklin attempted to interfere with decisions regarding when injured players could return to the field. Lynch also alleges that he was removed from his position as team doctor after bringing concerns to university officials, including Athletic Director Sandy Barbour.

Among the suit’s defendants are Penn State, Penn State Health, Franklin, Barbour and Kevin Black, chairman of orthopedics and rehabilitation at Hershey Medical Center. Lynch seeks more than $50,000 in damages.

Franklin said Tuesday that he will “vigorously defend” himself and the program against the allegations.

Lynch said Thursday that facts of the case will become public at trial.

“I initiated these legal proceedings with significant concern for the safety of the college athlete and look forward to the opportunity to present a detail of facts, which support the claims set forth in the Civil Complaint in a courtroom setting,” Lynch said in a statement.

Lynch’s suit notes several recommendations he made during a 2019 exit interview with officials, including limiting contact between coaches and doctors and preventing coaches from discussing injuries with players either “positively or negatively.”

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