MSU football injury report: No bye week boost as Spartans stay injured

EAST LANSING — Last week’s bye was an opportunity for Michigan State football to get healthy. Heading into a rivalry game against Michigan this Saturday, Nov. 7, in Ann Arbor, the Spartans are still facing significant injuries all over the field.

Quarterback Alessio Milivojevic remains questionable and running back Jaziun Patterson remains out on the initial MSU availability report released by the Big Ten on Wednesday, Nov. 4. Updates to the report will be made Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m., then two hours before Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. kickoff.

In total, 13 players are listed out for MSU and five are questionable to play. MSU (2-6, 0-5 Big Ten) enters Saturday’s battle for Paul Bunyan as a 13 ½-point underdog to Michigan (5-3, 2-3), though that line could move given the injury news.

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New additions to the injury report include tight end Jayden Savoury, whose 29 catches tie Iowa’s DJ Vonnahme for the Big Ten lead. Savoury has not scored a touchdown this season, but he has 271 receiving yards and has emerged as the true starter at tight end as his sophomore season progressed.

Milivojevic’s status is key for a Michigan State offense that created a season-low 156 yards of offense Oct. 24 at UCLA. The Spartans started a third-stringer, Kayd Coffman, with Milivojevic and backup Cam Fancher (still out) both inactive. Coffman threw a 14-yard touchdown on his fourth straight completion to start the game, but he threw six straight incompletions including an interception. Fourth-string Leo Hannan didn’t fare much better.

In the run game, where 49 of the past 56 rivalry victors have found their recipe for success, Michigan State is down to its fourth-string with Cam Edwards (knee, season), Jaziun Patterson and Marvis Parrish all listed out. Kenneth Williams is the top guy back, and he rushed for just 54 yards on 17 carries in the leading role against UCLA, with nine of his carries going for three yards or less.

More: Depleted by injury, Michigan State knows it must win run game to beat Michigan

At cornerback, Michigan State spent its past two games against Northwestern and UCLA without any of its top four cornerbacks: Tyran Chappell, Tre Bell, Charles Brantley and Keshawn Williams. Chappell and Williams are listed questionable for this Saturday’s game. The past two games, the Spartans started fifth-year NiJhay Burt and freshman Jeremiah Favorite.

Two key defensive players, defensive tackle Ben Roberts and safety Devin Vaught, sustained injuries against UCLA. Roberts is listed out, and the fact that he left the Rose Bowl field in a wheelchair with a knee brace suggests that his might be season-ending after a breakout season piqued interest from NFL scouts.

More: Ben Roberts’ injury looms large for Michigan State’s defense

Vaught, meanwhile, is listed questionable. He is responsible for three of Michigan State’s five takeaways on the season, including two forced fumbles, one recovered, before his injury versus UCLA.

At linebacker, Jordan Hall remains out for a third straight game and fifth game this season with an injury that left him in a sling on the sideline to watch an Oct. 24 loss to UCLA. 

Fullback Jay Coyne remains out for a sixth straight game, and freshmen offensive lineman Tristan Comer and tight end Joe Caudill remain out as they have been all season. Freshman safety Brayden Thomas is also out for a third straight game.

cearegood@detroitnews.com

@ConnorEaregood

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: MSU football injury report: No bye week boost as Spartans stay injured