Michigan’s Monday injury update brought a little bit of everything: some encouraging signs, some uncertainty, and a few players still stuck in the gray area as the Wolverines turn their attention to Minnesota.
The biggest takeaway from Kyle Whittingham’s presser was simple enough: nobody is out for the season after the Iowa game. That alone gives Michigan a reason to breathe a bit easier after a week that already included the pain of a last-second loss.
Still, the Wolverines are dealing with a handful of injuries that could shape the week ahead.
John Henry Daley’s status is still up in the air, though Whittingham said he is questionable for Minnesota. There wasn’t much detail beyond that, but Whittingham also noted on the “Inside Michigan Football” podcast that Daley is walking without crutches or a boot.
Blake Frazier’s situation is also unsettled. He left the Iowa game in obvious pain before returning, and Whittingham had previously said the injury was not very serious. Even so, he stopped short of offering a firm answer on Monday, saying more would come later in the week on whether Frazier can play against Minnesota.
Andrew Sprague appears to be further behind. He has already missed the UTEP and Iowa games, and Whittingham said there is more clarity now, though the staff still has a few things to sort out. For the moment, it does not sound like Sprague will be ready this week, and his timeline beyond that remains unclear.
There was better news on Andrew Babalola. After working his way back from a torn ACL at the end of fall camp in 2025, he suffered a setback late in the 2026 fall camp and has not played this season. That return matters more now with Frazier potentially out, and Whittingham said Babalola will start back at practice on Monday of next week.
Manuel Beigel is also trending in the right direction. He was cleared to practice and should be back in the mix this week after missing Iowa with an undisclosed injury. With Michigan’s offensive line already taking hits, getting another body back is a welcome development.
Whittingham didn’t have much to add on Jordan Marshall beyond saying he had a good game Saturday. Marshall ran for 59 yards, topping freshman Savion Hiter’s 53, even though Hiter had 14 touches to Marshall’s 11.
Hiter has also been more involved in the passing game. There was no indication injury was the reason Marshall didn’t get more work than Hiter, but after getting banged up against UTEP, he still may be working his way back to full strength.
It is something to keep an eye on, though not a major concern.
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The next branch of that tree only adds to the programs reputation. Jesse Minter stepped in after Macdonald, followed Harbaugh to the Chargers, and has since climbed to the top of the NFL ladder himself, earning the Baltimore Ravens head coaching job in 2026. For Michigan, it is another reminder that Harbaughs staff did not just win games, it became a pipeline to the leagues most prominent jobs. [Read more 🡒]
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The Wolverines are also working to stay in position with 2028 tight end Jack McNamara, another target who has been around campus multiple times and has built a close relationship with the staff. For a program that keeps emphasizing long-term roster building, those early ties matter, especially when the competition for elite prospects only gets more intense the farther out the calendar goes. Michigan has plenty of work ahead, but the buzz around these names suggests the staff is laying real groundwork for the classes to come. [Read more 🡒]
