Michigan State vs Oregon: Injury report

No. 5 Michigan State will look to avenge last season’s loss to No. 7 Oregon when the two teams face off on Saturday night in Spartan Stadium.

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It will be the first matchup of top-ten teams in Spartan Stadium since the “Game of the Century,” when No. 2 ranked Michigan State played No. 1 Notre Dame to a 10-10 tie in 1966.

ESPN‘s College Gameday is in East Lansing for what has been the most anticipated non-conference clash in all of college football. The winner will vault themselves into the playoff conversation, while the loser will have to remain perfect the rest of the way to even have a chance.

In a game of this magnitude, whichever team is healthier already has a leg up before kickoff. Let’s take a look at the injury report for the Michigan State vs Oregon game.

Michigan State

Cornerback Darian Hicks, who has been recovering from mononucleosis, played last Friday against Western Michigan and is expected to be available again for Oregon, albeit in a reserve role behind starters Demetrious Cox and Vayante Copeland.

Reserve defensive tackle Enoch Smith Jr. (hernia) did not play against Western Michigan and is questionable to play on Saturday.

JUCO transfer Drake Martinez (undisclosed) was expected to help on special teams and at linebacker this season after being granted a waiver to gain immediate eligibility. However, Martinez has been out with an undisclosed injury and Mark Dantonio refused to comment on his status.

Drake did not play against Western Michigan and is not listed on the depth chart for Oregon. It is doubtful he’ll see the field Saturday.

Must Read: MSU Recruiting: Who’ll be in town for the Oregon game?

Backup safety Mark Meyers will not play versus Oregon after being suspended indefinitely following an OWI charge that occurred last Saturday night in East Lansing.

At first glance, this may not seem like a big deal. However, the Spartans will need all hands on deck to combat fatigue against Oregon’s fast-paced no-huddle offense. Meyers’ absence will mean a less experienced player such as red-shirt freshmen Matt Morrissey and Jalen Watts-Jackson could see time.

Defensive co-coordinator Harlon Barnett indicated that in the event of an injury to a starting safety, Demetrious Cox would slide over from cornerback to safety, and Arjen Colquhoun or Jermaine Edmondson would fill in at corner.

Starting safety Montae Nicholson left the Western Michigan game briefly with an arm injury, but returned to action a short while later. Nicholson is expected to play against Oregon.

Linebacker Ed Davis is out for the season with a torn ACL suffered in a non-contact drill in fall camp.

Oregon

Quarterback Vernon Adams left the game against his former team last week after receiving a late hit to the head in the fourth quarter. Many onlookers speculated that Adams may have suffered a concussion.

That was not the case however according to Adams and Ducks’ coach Mark Helfrich. Adams told reporters after the game that he was feeling good and would play against Michigan State.

Backup defensive back Charles Nelson is probable for Saturday after missing the Eastern Washington game with a lower body injury.

Wide receiver Devon Allen, who torched the Spartans last year for 110 yards and two touchdowns, is out with a torn ACL he suffered in August. Tight end Pharaoh Brown has also been out indefinitely with a leg injury and is not expected to play versus MSU.

Lastly, running back Thomas Tyner is out for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery in August.

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