Several Players Missed Game Due to Injury

EAST LANSING (freep.com) — Michigan State was missing several key players for Saturday’s game because of
injuries. 

The Spartans trailed, 24-21, in the third quarter before beating Minnesota, 31-24, at Spartan Stadium. 

Running back Larry Caper (concussion), cornerback Darqueze Dennard (concussion), center Travis Jackson (leg) and linebacker Chris Norman (shoulder) were on the dressed list, but the coaching staff kept them out of the game. Caper, Dennard and Jackson were injured in last Saturday’s 24-3 loss at Nebraska, and Norman missed his second straight game. 

“We had a lot of guys out,” said coach Mark Dantonio, adding that linebacker Steve Gardiner left Saturday with an upper-body injury. 

Dantonio said tight end Dion Sims didn’t play because of a wrist injury. 

“Travis Jackson was out, Larry Caper was out. Those guys could have played, but we held them because they were concussed. They were all cleared to play. We just felt it would benefit them greatest if we didn’t play them today, give them till Tuesday to practice.”

Ethan Ruhland started at center in place of Jackson. He’s the third center the team has used this season. Blake Treadwell started the season at center before suffering a season-ending knee injury. 

True freshman linebacker Taiwan Jones (three tackles) also saw a lot of playing time, along with sophomore linebacker Kyler Elsworth (seven tackles, half a sack).

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