Michigan Football had a handful of key injuries that held some of their better players out of the 40-21 win over Middle Tennessee State on Saturday night, headlined by wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones. Head coach Jim Harbaugh spoke about the ailments after the game without offering much of a timetable for their possible returns.
“There was a few guys, more than that, that were working through something, that we didn’t have play in this game. Yeah, I do (think they might be able to return next week),” Harbaugh said. “I don’t know. We gotta see on Mike Dwumfour. Expect Donovan Jeter (next week), expect, perhaps Jon Runyan. And we’ll see on Donovan Peoples-Jones as well. Don’t know for sure.”
Peoples-Jones did not dress for the game and was spotted in street clothes and a walking boot on the the field during warmups. It sounds as if he is dealing with a high ankle sprain, which could mean he sits out again in Week 2 if they choose to let him rest during the bye week before the trip to Wisconsin, but we will have to wait and see. By all accounts, it is not that serious of an injury and the depth at wide receiver gives him a chance to ease back into it before the strenuous part of the season.
Jeter, who has been penciled in as the starter next to Carlo Kemp at defensive tackle, did not dress and was dealing with an undisclosed injury. Of the injured players, Harbaugh seemed to indicate that he has the best shot at returning to the lineup next week. Ben Mason got the start at defensive tackle in his absence.
There had been local radio whispers last week of an injury to Jon Runyan Jr., the team’s starting left tackle, but he was dressed and on the field for Saturday night’s game. Despite that, he did not play and Ryan Hayes got the start in his place. Michigan’s radio broadcast seemed to indicate that Runyan should play next week.
As far as what happened to defensive tackle Michael Dwumfour, he was wearing a wrap on his hand to start the game and was in on MTSU’s first touchdown, where he had a chance to finish off a sack that turned into a rushing touchdown for their quarterback. After the play, he came off the field with some sort of arm or shoulder injury.
Running back Tru Wilson suffered a hand injury in the game and was originally reported as done for the evening, but returned to the field in the third quarter with a wrap on his hand and was spotted after the game still sporting it. Whatever it was, it appears he was able to play through it and it should not be an issue.