Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara talks Ronnie Bell knee injury

Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara lamented the loss of receiver Ronnie Bell to a knee injury Saturday. Bell exited Saturday’s season opener against Western Michigan, a mere few minutes after a 76-yard touchdown reception.

“It’s very difficult seeing a teammate, a brother out there hurt. Ronnie is a big part of this team and I’m praying for whatever it is for him to be able to be OK. It’s super difficult and you hate to see it.”

“I was watching Bell when he was trying to leave the field.  He tried his best to put weight on that right knee but every time he did, he would just collapse in pain,” ESPN’s Kris Budden said on the broadcast. “Jim Harbaugh went to go allow the family members to go stand next to Bell as he’s being treated.”

The severity of the injury remains unclear. Bell, who appeared extremely emotional following the injury, was carted off the field in Saturday’s contest.

He later appeared in the Michigan Stadium tunnel in a wheelchair.

Michigan star Ronnie Bell was carted off the field after suffering an apparent leg injury. pic.twitter.com/yAuO4Ta7Ky

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 4, 2021

Michigan went on to defeat Western Michigan, 47-14.

The Wolverines offense, which had not yet had a breakthrough play, held possession on third-and-3 from their own 23-yard line. McNamara, a junior quarterback from Reno, Nevada, took a shotgun snap and found Bell in single coverage just minutes before he went down with the leg injury.

With pure speed, Bell was able to outrun the last line of Western Michigan’s secondary and reel in a perfectly-placed pass from his quarterback, which he proceeded to take to the house for a 76-yard touchdown.

Bell’s touchdown reception may not even be his best play of the day, as he had one more highlight earlier in the contest that was ultimately called back due to offensive pass interference. McNamara, on Michigan’s previous possession in the second quarter, dropped back in the pocket and again found Bell in single coverage. Bell appeared to have used his arm to push the Western Michigan defender, making a slight window of separation. He capitalized on the tiny window, reeling in an unbelievable one-handed catch on the sideline, toe-tapping his way to what would’ve been a first down. However, the play was called back by the referees following the pass interference flag.

Bell, a senior, was an All-Big Ten honorable mention in 2019, and last season led the Michigan Wolverines receiving corp with 26 receptions, 401 yards and a touchdown. He entered his senior season at Michigan having played 32 games and catching 82 passes, while registering 1,304 receiving yards and four touchdowns. His 76-yard touchdown catch on Saturday was the longest of his career, beating his previous best of 71 yards in 2019.

Ronnie Bell was projected to be a stalwart in Michigan’s offense this season, and he showed glimpses of his immense athleticism before suffering the knee injury on Saturday.

On3’s Simon Gibbs contributed to this report.