Michigan State’s injury report finally offered a little bit of hope this week, and for a team that has spent most of the season patching together lineups, that matters.
The Spartans, sitting at 3-6 overall and 1-5 in Big Ten play, have been operating short-handed for much of the year. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald has said several times that he’s never seen this many injuries in his coaching career, and Michigan State has leaned on third-stringers and even fourth-stringers at times in 2026. But heading into Saturday’s matchup with Washington, there’s at least a chance the Spartans get several key pieces back.
One of the biggest names to watch is Jaziun Patterson, who is listed as doubtful. That doesn’t exactly scream certainty, but it does leave the door cracked open.
Patterson has been out for three weeks and two games with an undisclosed injury, and his last appearance came against Northwestern. With Michigan State’s backfield already battered, his return would be meaningful.
Starter Cam Edwards is done for the year after suffering a knee injury in the Big Ten opener against Nebraska, while RB3 Marvis Parrish also went down at UCLA with a leg injury. Brandon Tullis had his moment in the upset at Michigan, but for most of the season he’s been buried deep on the depth chart.
Patterson’s stretch as the starter between Edwards’ injury and his own gave the Spartans at least some stability, and he’d give the run game a badly needed lift if he’s able to go.
Quarterback is another spot where Michigan State could use reinforcements. Cam Fancher has missed the last four games with what appeared to be a leg injury suffered at Wisconsin, and Alessio Milivojevic also dealt with a thumb injury against Northwestern.
That left MSU to start an overmatched QB3, Kayd Coffman, in a game at now-No. 4 UCLA.
Fancher’s role in the offense was limited, but it was one of the few things that worked while he was healthy. Nick Sheridan’s offense seems to fit a mobile quarterback better, and that’s where Fancher has a clear edge.
He’d especially matter in the red zone.
The Spartans’ secondary has also been stretched thin, though that picture is starting to improve. At one point, MSU was working with perhaps four of its top five corners unavailable.
True freshman Jeremiah Favorite has started the last three games, but help is trickling back. Tyran Chappell returned last week and played nine defensive snaps, while Keshawn Williams also came back and logged 24 snaps at UM.
Now there’s a chance starting corner Tre Bell returns after missing the last three games. Bell has been a serviceable starter when healthy, and Michigan State could use him down the stretch.
Charles Brantley is another corner whose status is worth watching. He’s also missed the last three games, and while his sixth and final college season hasn’t gone smoothly, he was still a major part of the rotation when available.
Brantley’s aggressiveness can get him beaten on double moves and other routes, but it also makes him a ball hawk, which is something MSU could use more of with safety Devin Vaught now out. Brantley has also forced two fumbles this season.
The biggest surprise on the initial availability report was Ben Roberts being listed as questionable. The star nose tackle missed the Michigan game after suffering a leg injury on the first defensive play at UCLA.
After he came out of the locker room on crutches, in a boot, and even in a wheelchair, it looked like his season might be over. But Roberts has been Michigan State’s best player this season, and the fact that he’s even in the conversation is notable.
If he’s able to play, the Spartans’ interior defensive line could have a real chance to attack Washington’s struggling run game, which ranks 131st in the FBS.
Also back: WR Charles Taplin. Notable players now out: S Devin Vaught, WR Rodney Bullard Jr.
In Other News...
Michigan State Opens Big Ten Play With A Frustrating New Concern
Michigan State opened Big Ten play with a result that felt equal parts encouraging and aggravating, dropping a 3-2 overtime decision to Notre Dame at Compton Family Ice Arena. Shane Vansaghi supplied both Spartans goals, matching his career high, and Michigan State did enough in stretches to tilt the shot count 35-33 in its favor, but the night still ended with an empty feeling after a game that never quite turned into a win.
Adam Nightingale pointed to improvement in the second period, a sign the Spartans can build on as conference play settles in, but the bigger concern is how quickly a solid effort can still slip away. For a team trying to establish itself in the Big Ten, the margin for error is already thin, and this was the kind of frustrating opener that leaves Michigan State with more to clean up than celebrate. [Read more 🡒]
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The setback dropped Michigan State to 17-8 overall and 7-8 in conference play, while Purdue moved to 17-7 and 10-5 in the Big Ten. For a Spartans group trying to steady itself in league play, the encouraging part was less about the final score and more about the level of resistance it brought against a ranked opponent on its home floor. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Fans Are Stuck Waiting On A Bizarre Game-Day Limbo
A strange bit of game-day uncertainty settled over East Lansing on Friday afternoon when Washingtons travel plans were thrown into limbo by a nationwide FAA ground stop on outgoing flights. The Huskies were supposed to leave Seattle for their scheduled matchup with Michigan State, but the delay came just before 4 p.m. ET and immediately complicated the logistics of getting the game on track.
For Michigan State fans, it is the kind of off-field wrinkle that can overshadow the usual pregame routine, especially with the situation still unresolved and no clear timeline for a fix. The travel restrictions are affecting multiple college football teams, but for now the Spartans and their supporters are left waiting to see whether Washington can make the trip and how the schedule might hold up. [Read more 🡒]