Michigan football injury updates: Latest on Will Johnson, Josaiah Stewart, banged up offensive linemen
Michigan Wolverines football was quite a bit short-handed in Saturday’s game against Minnesota, a 27-24 victory, missing several key players due to injuries. The most notable were junior cornerback Will Johnson and senior EDGE Josaiah Stewart, the team’s leaders in interceptions (2) and sacks (4), respectively.
Both were ‘questionable’ for the game against the Gophers, but head coach Sherrone Moore revealed on the ‘Inside Michigan Football’ radio show that they should be able to play this week at Washington.
“Yeah, I do,” Moore said on if he expects Johnson and Stewart to be available. “I think they’ll be ready to practice this week and be ready to go.”
At his press conference earlier in the day, Moore put sophomore wide receiver Semaj Morgan and graduate safety Makari Paige in that same category, expecting them to play against the Huskies. Morgan missed the Minnesota game, while Paige left the outing in the fourth quarter.
Michigan also lost fifth-year senior left tackle Myles Hinton in the second half of last week’s game. He limped off the field and was replaced by graduate Jeffrey Persi.
“Right now, I’d put him as questionable,” Moore said of Hinton. “We’ll see how he progresses through the week.”
The Michigan coach was impressed with how Persi stepped in. Persi has started only one career game (at Rutgers in 2022) but appeared in 33, including 12 on the offensive line.
“Thought he did well,” Moore said. “Wasn’t surprised that he did well, but he did some really good things and played physical, was a man-mover, did really good in protection, so he did a good job.”
Michigan senior center Dominick Giudice was hobbled in the second half versus the Gophers but stayed in the game at what appeared to be less than 100 percent. The Wolverines were already thin at center, with senior Greg Crippen not playing due to injuruy despite rotating in during prior outings.
“Dom is working through some things, and I think he’ll be available to practice this week, so we’ll see,” Michigan’s head man said. “But Cripp is definitely back, and he’ll be ready to go.”
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Crippen is similar to Persi in that he’s appeared in many games (19) but is limited on starting experience. Moore hinted that Crippen may make his first career start this week, though.
“The biggest thing is the game experience,” Moore said. “Cripp has been to all these different venues and been to loud stadiums and seen it. He’s played in a couple of them but hasn’t been the starter, so that’ll be different. But just having the experience of how loud it can get and understanding the silent cadence and how they operate, and just having calm, cool demeanor in those situations is what [you have to do].
“You have to make a point, you have to change a point, but you can’t panic. You just have to be in the moment and worry about that play.”
Ja’Den McBurrows dealing with long-term injury
Moore was asked at his press conference if there are any long-term injuries among Michigan’s players who were listed as ‘out’ for last week’s game, and he revealed that senior cornerback Ja’Den McBurrows will be “out” for the long run.
McBurrows appeared in four games, notching 4 tackles and 1 pass breakup as the backup nickel back to junior Zeke Berry.
Moore indicated that two Michigan safeties — graduate Wesley Walker and junior Jaden Mangham — should be back at some point.
