The injury bug has lived in East Lansing for what has felt like decades now as Michigan State has been plagued by injuries for years now.
That might change under Pat Fitzgerald, at least according to Jordan Hall.
The senior linebacker and team captain was asked about not having traditional scrimmages during fall camp like the Mark Dantonio, Mel Tucker, and Jonathan Smith all had, and his answer was rather surprising and it should make Michigan State fans feel better about the state of this year’s team — and really the entire Fitzgerald era.
He said that this is the best camp that he’s been a part of and that he feels healthier than ever heading into the season opener.
Jordan Hall on not having traditional scrimmages in fall camp:
— SpartanMag.com (@TheSpartanMag) August 24, 2026
“My body feels great. This has probably been the best camp that I’ve been apart of in terms of injuries. I feel healthy and ready to go going into week one..”
Hall is glad to see a much more methodical and careful approach to fall camp and he’s been around for three different coaching staffs, so he’s the perfect student athlete to speak on this.
Having been around during the Tucker, Smith, and now Fitzgerald tenures, Hall can compare all three and the fact that he’s saying that this is the best one in terms of injuries is a promising sign. Now will the lack of injuries bleed over into the season? That’s another story, but it’s always good when the team doesn’t have to start from behind due to a plethora of injured stars.
There are always going to be injuries — they’re unavoidable. But the injury reports over the past few seasons have looked like grocery lists. Hopefully that means this is changing.
Michigan State can’t afford the influx of injuries
One reason Fitzgerald has probably taken good care of the team during fall camp by keeping everyone well-rested has to be the lack of adequate depth. This is Fitzgerald’s first season and he knows that his roster isn’t where he wants it quite yet. An injury or two could derail the season.
That careful approach has to be related to the lack of depth in certain areas.
Plus, he probably took one look at Michigan State’s injury reports from the last month of the 2025 season and nearly had a heart attack. There’s just no building a competitive program when a third of the team is on the injury report. Good coaches know that.
Injuries had been a top concern for years and now it sounds like Michigan State has a coach who’s taking health and stamina very seriously.
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