Michigan State football injury report vs. Nebraska in Week 6

On Saturday, Michigan State football released its injury report a couple of hours before the Nebraska game kicked off. The Spartans got an extra week to recover, following a game against USC where five starting players were out with injury by halftime.

Who is out?

The Spartans will be without Brady Pretzlaff for this contest, alongside the rest of the contests, as confirmed by Jonathan Smith on Monday. Pretzlaff suffered an apparent upper body injury against Youngstown State during week three, and was officially declared out for the year. He previously did not travel out to Los Angeles in week four.

Pretzlaff joins Luka Vincic (leg), Caleb Gash (undisclosed), and Andrew Brinson IV (upper body) as players to be ruled out for the season.

Another player not making the trip out to Lincoln was Stanton Ramil. On Monday, Smith confirmed that the starting left tackle is expected to be out a month or so. Ramil left after nine snaps against the Trojans last game. An optimist would hope that Ramil returns for the contest against the Michigan Wolverines on Oct. 25. Rustin Young, Ashton Lepo, and Conner Moore are among the options to replace Ramil.

Defensive back Ade Willie is out today for the Spartans, as well. Willie has not appeared on the injury report this year. Jeremiah Hughes will be tasked with stepping up, as he has split reps with the starting nickel in previous weeks. Justin Denson Jr. is another name that could see reps at the spot.

Marcellius Pulliam is out today for the Spartans. Pulliam stepped up in a big way for the Spartans against USC. However, he is out. With Wayne Matthews in, there is slightly less concern. However, with Pretzlaff also out, the linebacker room is thinning out for MSU.

Alante Brown remained out for another week, which was expected. The former Cornhusker could not return to Lincoln due to a lower body injury suffered pre-game against Youngstown State.

Nikai Martinez will be out on Saturday, again. Following a collision of friendly fire with Quindarius Dunnigan, the seniors both did not return to the USC contest. Martinez was a player Smith sounded doubtful about on his Thursday radio show, and Martinez could not go on Saturday. Armorion Smith likely replaces him, with Justin Denson Jr. and Devynn Cromwell being the two off the bench behind Smith.

Kicker Tarik Ahmetbasic and long snapper Kaden Schickel remain out with injuries. The staff expected Schickel to be out, as Smith confirmed freshman Jack Wills would not be redshirting on Monday. Ahmetbasic would be fighting to back up Martin Connington. Instead, the role goes to Blake Sislo by default.

Who’s back?

Quindarius Dunnigan was part of a scary collision with Nikai Martinez late in the first half against USC. Neither returned to the game. Thankfully, the seventh-year senior was cleared to play and was off the injury report.

Jalen Satchell is back healthy for the first time this season. He will compete with Kekai Burnett, Ru’Quan Buckley, Derrick Simmons, and Grady Kelly to come off the bench for the defensive tackles.

Wayne Matthews III was involved in a scary collision prior to halftime against USC. The senior linebacker was immediately down after the play. When the staff attended to him, they signaled for a cart and then cut his jersey and pads off. He was loaded to an ambulance and went to LA General Hospital, a level one trauma center. However, he was able to travel home with the team, and the bye week did him good. Matthews is a “go” for today.

Dontavius Nash is in for the Spartans today. He has not appeared on injury reports previously, with the Eastern Carolina defensive back transfer yet to make his debut. However, the Spartans showed him travelling with the team on Instagram.

Makhi Frazier and Nick Marsh are both with the team after traveling to USC but being admittedly “not 100%” in LA. With the extra bye week, the hope is that they will be back to full strength today.

Jordan Hall did not leave for injury, but a questionable targeting call. Regardless, it is worth noting the starting middle linebacker is back for the Spartans today.