After missing the season opener against Western Michigan, Michigan State football fans were hoping to get starting safety Nikai Martinez back for the massive Boston College battle in Week 2.
Unfortunately, it doesn't look like that'll be the case.
According to Pete Thamel, Michigan State is going to be without Martinez on Saturday, marking the second straight missed game with an undisclosed injury. He started all 12 games last year and was the defense's leading snap-getter.
Sources: Michigan State will be without starting safety Nikai Martinez against Boston College on Saturday, the second game he's missed this year with an undisclosed injury. He started all 12 games for MSU last year and led the team in defensive snaps. pic.twitter.com/EFjGNiQbsi
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 5, 2025
This is a big blow to the defense which is trying to shuffle guys in and out of the safety spot to replace Martinez, and gave up a couple of big-gainers against Western Michigan. One of the chunk plays was over Joshua Eaton and the other was on Armorion Smith.
Still, Jonathan Smith has been speaking highly of the depth he has in the defensive backfield, and it'll be nice to see guys like Smith and Justin Denson Jr. battle it out for playing time.
Michigan State could use all the help they can get, however, against Boston College's sudden pass-heavy offense. The Eagles couldn't run the ball worth a lick in the opener against Fordham, and I'm assuming Michigan State's stout run defense will give them fits in Week 2, making Boston College one-dimensional. But that one dimension is dangerous with Dylan Lonergan leading the way.
Martinez will get another week to rest up, and I'd be surprised to see him against a team like Youngstown State in Week 3, but maybe the staff will give him a snap count and a warmup game against the Penguins before Big Ten play begins.
The Spartans will need him back sooner rather than later.