Michigan State's Injury Report Looks Like a Christmas Shopping List

Michigan State was hit by a slew of injuries last week, and the damage to the Spartans' roster is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

It felt like a tidal wave swept through East Lansing, taking one Spartan after another off the field. The team seemingly couldn't go more than a drive without losing another player, forcing backups and depth pieces into significantly larger roles.

Unfortunately for Michigan State, the injury bug proved too much to overcome, and the Spartans were unable to secure their first Big Ten victory of the season.

Now, that opportunity shifts to Saturday's road matchup against Wisconsin, a team coming off an upset, come-from-behind victory over Penn State.

Unfortunately, the Spartans don't appear to have the Wolverine gene that allows players to heal themselves overnight. With Michigan State's latest availability report resembling a laundry list of injuries, let's take a look at who will be available for Saturday's contest.

Out:

Spartan fans already knew the biggest name on this list. Running back Cam Edwards was officially ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering a significant injury Saturday, with the news becoming public Monday. His absence is a major blow to an offense that has relied heavily on his production throughout the season.

Fullback Jay Cone will also miss his second consecutive game. Michigan State's rushing attack noticeably missed its lead blocker last week, and the Spartans will once again have to find a way to compensate for his absence.

The secondary is another area taking a significant hit. Cornerback Tyran Chappell, who transferred to Michigan State this offseason with high expectations, will miss his second straight game. Keshawn Williams is also unavailable, further depleting a position group that was already stretched thin last week.

Doubtful:

- LB #5 Jordan Hall

After Edwards, Jordan Hall is arguably the most significant absence Michigan State could face, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

The star linebacker has battled injuries throughout the season. First, it was an elbow issue, and now he appears to be dealing with a lower-body injury. Hall exited last week's game just a few plays into the second half, leaving an already depleted linebacker room in an even more difficult position.

With fellow starting linebacker Brady Petzlaff also unavailable against Nebraska, the Spartans desperately needed Hall to remain on the field. Instead, additional injuries forced Michigan State to dig even deeper into its reserves as it attempted to slow down a talented Nebraska offense.

Hall's doubtful designation suggests he is unlikely to return this weekend. However, the fact that he hasn't been ruled out entirely leaves the door open for a potential return in Week 6.

Questionable:

There are several names on this list that Spartan fans will be hoping to see back on the field Saturday.

Starting cornerback Tre Bell suffered an injury during warmups last week, forcing him to miss the entire game. His potential return would provide a much-needed boost to a secondary that has struggled to maintain its depth.

The three linebackers listed as questionable — Stogdill, Crawford and Petzlaff — are particularly important given Hall's doubtful status. Michigan State desperately needs reinforcements at the position. If Hall remains sidelined and multiple questionable linebackers are unable to play, Caleb Wheatland could find himself carrying an enormous workload.

On the offensive line, Conner Moore left last week's game on the same play that ended Edwards' season. While Moore is listed as questionable rather than out, his availability could be critical for an offensive line that has struggled mightily through the opening weeks of the season. Getting him back would provide some much-needed stability up front.

Eli Bickel's status is another one to monitor as the Spartans attempt to piece together a healthy offensive front.

The Spartans have been dealt a brutal hand over the past week, and the latest availability report makes it clear that the injury woes aren't going away anytime soon.

Michigan State will once again have to lean on its depth and embrace the next-man-up mentality, but there is only so much a team can overcome when so many key contributors are unavailable.

Hopefully, several of the questionable players will be cleared to suit up against Wisconsin. However, expecting all of them to return would be overly optimistic.

The Spartans may have to weather this injury storm for another game or two, making Saturday's matchup an even greater test of their depth, resilience and ability to find answers with the players still available.