Penn State coach Joe Paterno runs onto the field for the start of the second half of a football game against Wisconsin Saturday, Nov. 4, 2006, in Madison, Wis. Paterno left the game with a knee injury after getting hit on the sidelines.

STATE COLLEGE — Joe Paterno studied tapes, barked out orders over a speakerphone and began preparing for Penn State's next game.

A broken left leg and a damaged knee ligament kept the 79-year-old Paterno laid up at home Sunday, but it didn't keep him from coaching, his staff said.

Paterno's son and quarterbacks coach, Jay, said he spoke with his father Sunday and there was "no thought whatsoever of not coming back this year. ... It's not even in the discussion.

"There's nothing more to read into this in terms of his career," the younger Paterno said.

However, Joe Paterno still might be hobbled for a while. He fractured the top of his tibia, or shin bone, and damaged a knee ligament after two players ran into him during the Nittany Lions' 13-3 loss to Wisconsin on Saturday, according to team doctor Wayne Sebastianelli.

While the leg could heal with just rehabilitation, surgery — which could potentially speed the healing process — was also being considered, said Guido D'Elia, director of communications for football.

"He wants to make the quickest fix," D'Elia said.