Notebook: Busy injury reports, WMU badly needs sacks, CMU starts October gauntlet
Conference play is in full swing for both the MAC and Big Ten, and a lot of injuries have cropped up four weeks into the season.
Both Michigan and Michigan State had busy injury reports on Wednesday evening, plus a few key Western Michigan players are on the mend ahead of a trip to Buffalo this Saturday, Lance Taylor said on Monday.
It'll be a busy end of the week monitoring the injury reports, and a weekend where Western Michigan seeks more sacks, Central Michigan begins an October odyssey and MSU faces a former wideout.
Let's dig in.
Western Michigan’s defense seeks more sacks
In four weeks, Western Michigan ranks second-to-last nationally in total sacks, with three. Akron and Middle Tennessee State are the only teams with fewer.
It’s something head coach Lance Taylor and Co. are keenly aware of.
“defensive line, we've got to find a way to rush the passer. And we have not created enough havoc plays, tackles for laws, sacks, hurries, pressures, those things. So we're dialed in on that.”
To Taylor’s point, when it comes to havoc play rate — havoc plays being TFLs, sacks, forced fumbles or defensed passes (break ups and interceptions) — Western Michigan lags at No. 124 nationally, per Game On Paper.
Pair that with allowing a success rate — a measure of how many yards toward a first down an offense gets on a given play — of 48.8 percent for opposing offenses, around No. 100 nationally, Western Michigan hasn’t been the stalwart defensive outfit it was in 2025.
The Broncos took a big hit in both those marks against Boise State, but Taylor is bullish that his team has the players in the building to start affecting opposing offenses more and more.
“We've got the right guys,” Taylor said. “We've got a really good group, and we're rotating a bunch of guys. We've got to get the right combination, the best eleven to rush the passer. And, I thought in the run game, the edges were physical and some of their tight end and edge, perimeter blocks weren't stout enough. Interior, we got knocked off our double teams and created some gaps and seams, and allowed the linemen get up to our linebackers. So, you know, some things that work on and correct, but things that we can work on and correct. Again, we got the right guys. I've seen it.”
Central Michigan’s October gauntlet
Starting Saturday, the Chippewas open conference play with the following four opponents:
- Akron, Oct. 3
- at Ohio, Oct. 10
- Western Michigan, Oct. 17
- Miami (OH), Oct. 24
Come the idle week on Halloween, it’ll be well known if Central Michigan can really contend in the MAC. The Chippewas will not be taking the visiting Zips lightly, though, nor looking ahead to the rest of the October slate.
Along with being the conference opener, homecoming and a chance to exact a bit of revenge against an Akron team that beat CMU last year, the game has become a little bit personal for head coach Matt Drinkall. That’s in part, he explained, because it was a day he failed in properly affecting the team to play well; and CMU didn’t in a 28-22 loss where a last ditch comeback made the score closer than the outcome.
“I can handle losing,” Drinkall said. “I can't handle losing when the product is bad. And the product was bad. The product was bad because of me a year ago. And I have got to make sure we get it right.”
And if the Chippewas come out firing on all cylinders and dispatch Akron for a homecoming victory to open conference play, the reward will be a trip to Athens, Ohio, to face an Ohio program that’s been around the top of the MAC for a while but may be feeling a third head coach in three years catching up on it.
Then it’s just two visits from last year’s conference title game participants, one of whom is CMU’s chief and most bitter rival.
Former Spartan cooking at wideout for Wisconsin
Tyrell Henry, a fifth-year wideout from Roseville, Michigan, is starring for Wisconsin — and was once a Spartan. He began his career at Michigan State, playing in East Lansing in 2022 and 2023 before heading to Madison.
And already in four games this season, Henry has 24 catches for 307 yards and a touchdown, leading Wisconsin in receiving yards.
Potential for a big revenge game opportunity for Henry as a leading man in a Wisconsin passing attack facing a banged-up MSU defense.
Injuries of import
Long list today; Cam Edwards, or other season-enders, won’t be here.
WMU S Micah Davis: His injury to his right hand/thumb/wrist — is “day-to-day,” could get back to practice this week, it seems; availability vs. Buffalo is unlikely but not impossible. Was out and seen with a bulky wrap/sling on sideline vs. Boise State.
WMU WR Aveion Chenault: Warmed up and dressed out in pads but did not play with a lower body injury vs. Boise State after being listed as questionable. Seems set to return to lineup vs. Buffalo, barring setbacks.
CMU DB ED Conoran: Broke his thumb vs. Miami, head coach Matt Drinkall said, and will miss extended time due to surgery.
CMU S Coen Ali: Suffered a minor neck injury vs. Miami, per Drinkall, practiced on an individual basis to begin the week but should have a chance to play vs. Akron if things progress right.
CMU RB Vaughn Blue: Thigh contusion kept him out vs. Miami, expectation is he’s fully available vs. Akron.
CMU DL Dom Maiava: Beginning return to play protocol; might not be available this week vs. Akron but expected to be back soon.
Michigan OL Andrew Sprague: Questionable on the injury report Wednesday after missing the last two games with an undisclosed ailment. Return timeline for Michigan’s start RT is TBD.
Michigan OL Manuel Biegel: Also questionable after missing the Iowa game with an injury; normally Michigan’s sixth lineman, or “rhino,” in specific packages.
Michigan WR Andrew Marsh: Popped up on Wednesday injury report as questionable. Played well against Iowa, unclear the injury.
Michigan DE John Henry Daley: Questionable after dinging knee/leg late vs. Iowa, would be big loss if he can’t play vs. Minnesota.
Michigan DE Dom Nichols: Played through some lower body injury vs. Iowa, questionable again on Wednesday injury report
MSU CB NiJhay Burt: Out on Wednesday report ahead of Wisconsin after entering for an injured player and getting hurt himself vs. Nebraska.
MSU CB Tyran Chappell: Out per Wednesday’s report; was in a boot and on crutches on the sideline and did not play vs. Nebraska.
MSU CB Keshawn Williams: Out per the report; also got hurt vs. Nebraska.
MSU LB Jordan Hall: Listed as doubtful after injuring his ankle/leg vs. Nebraska and riding a cart back to the locker room. Been dealing with myriad injuries.
MSU CB Tre Bell: Questionable on Wednesday for Wisconsin after getting hurt in warmups ahead of the Nebraska game and not playing.
MSU OL Conner Moore: Got hurt on same play Edwards was lost for season, apparently lower body injury; listed as questionable on Wednesday.
MSU LB Brady Pretzlaff: Missed vs. Nebraska after getting hurt in Week 3, but now questionable as of Wednesday prior to facing Wisconsin.
MSU LB Dion Crawford: Listed as questionable, missed opener with injury but appeared in last three games before getting banged up again.
