Michigan is heading into its first road game of the season with several injury questions still hanging over the roster. After the painful 20-19 loss to Iowa, head coach Kyle Whittingham provided updates on players who could be available against Minnesota.
The Wolverines have dealt with injuries along both sides of the ball, with the offensive line facing particularly difficult depth issues. Whittingham said Monday that Michigan should have more clarity on several players as the week progressed, and the Big Ten availability report later listed multiple Wolverines with questions about their game status.
There was some encouraging news, however. Michigan did not immediately report a season-ending injury from the Iowa game, and at least one important player could be moving closer to a return. The Wolverines will travel to Minnesota looking to rebound from their first loss of the season.
John Henry Daley could return soon
One of the biggest questions involves defensive end John Henry Daley, who was injured on the penultimate play before Iowa scored its game-winning touchdown. Daley went down with 2 seconds remaining and needed help leaving the field after hurting his left ankle.
Whittingham later offered a more encouraging update, saying Daley was walking without a boot or crutches. That does not guarantee that the senior will play Saturday, but it gave Michigan reason for optimism heading into the week.
Daley’s availability remains uncertain. As of the midweek Big Ten availability report, he was listed as questionable for the Minnesota game, with Michigan continuing to monitor his recovery.
Blake Frazier remains another question
Michigan also needed more information on offensive lineman Blake Frazier, who appeared to be in significant pain during the Iowa game. Frazier left the game while trying to keep weight off his right leg but later returned and finished the contest.
Whittingham previously indicated that Frazier’s injury was not considered very serious, but he did not have a definitive answer Monday about whether the lineman would be ready for Minnesota. By midweek, the Big Ten availability report listed Frazier as probable.
Frazier’s availability could be especially important because Michigan has already been forced to shuffle its offensive line. The Wolverines entered the Iowa game without Andrew Sprague, making any additional absence up front another potential challenge for the offense.
Andrew Sprague still needs more time
Sprague has missed Michigan’s last 2 games after suffering an injury. He missed a second consecutive game against Iowa, and the midweek availability report listed him as questionable for Minnesota.
His continued uncertainty means Michigan may again need to rely on the reshuffled group that has handled the position during his recovery. Michigan has used Evan Link at left tackle while adjusting other positions along the line, with Frazier moving to right tackle against Iowa.
The Wolverines also used true freshman Marky Walbridge because of their limited offensive-line depth. The uncertainty has made consistency difficult, particularly as the Wolverines prepare for their first Big Ten road trip of the season.
Andrew Babalola provides encouraging news
While Sprague’s situation remains uncertain, Michigan received potentially significant news regarding Andrew Babalola. The former 5-star offensive tackle is expected to begin practicing next week, according to Whittingham’s comments, after missing the opening 4 games.
Babalola missed the 2025 season because of a knee injury and then suffered another setback during fall camp. His return to practice would give Michigan another option as the coaching staff continues searching for its best offensive-line combination.
Babalola’s return does not necessarily mean he will immediately play a major role. Still, simply getting him back into practice would give the Wolverines additional depth and another opportunity to evaluate how their offensive line can be configured going forward.
Michigan needs its defense healthy
The injury situation is particularly relevant for a Michigan defense that has been one of the team’s strongest units. Through 4 games, the Wolverines rank seventh nationally in total defense, allowing 236.3 yards per game, and 23rd in scoring defense, allowing 14.8 points per game.
Daley has been an important part of that defensive front. The Utah transfer leads Michigan with 3 sacks and ranks second on the team with 4.5 tackles for loss, making his status one of the most closely watched injury situations heading into Saturday.
If Daley cannot play, Michigan has other options along the edge, including Nate Marshall, Tariq Boney and Cam Brandt. Their availability would help the Wolverines maintain depth while Daley continues his recovery.
Fun fact: Michigan’s 2023 national championship season ended 15-0, the program’s first undefeated season since 1997.
Whittingham expects more answers soon
Michigan’s injury picture became clearer as the week progressed. The Big Ten availability report listed Blake Frazier as probable, John Henry Daley and Andrew Sprague as questionable, and Andrew Babalola as out for the Minnesota game.
The timing is important because Michigan has its first road game of the season at Minnesota on Saturday, Oct. 3, in Minneapolis. The Wolverines enter the matchup at 3-1 overall and 0-1 in Big Ten play after Iowa handed them their first defeat with a final-play touchdown.
For now, Daley, Frazier, and Sprague remain players to watch, while Babalola is moving toward a return to practice after the Minnesota game. Michigan will hope those developments give Whittingham more options as the team tries to respond to its difficult loss.
Fun fact: Michigan signed 26 players in its 2024 recruiting class, giving the Wolverines one of the largest incoming groups for that cycle.
TL;DR
- Kyle Whittingham provided several Michigan injury updates ahead of Saturday’s road game against Minnesota.
- John Henry Daley is questionable after suffering an injury near the end of Michigan’s loss to Iowa; he was reportedly walking without a boot or crutches.
- Blake Frazier left the Iowa game briefly because of a painful right-leg injury but returned and finished the contest. He was later listed as probable.
- Andrew Sprague has missed 2 consecutive games and was listed as questionable for Minnesota.
- Former 5-star offensive tackle Andrew Babalola is expected to begin practicing next week after his knee injury and subsequent fall-camp setback, but he was listed as out for Minnesota.
- Michigan gained greater clarity when the Big Ten availability report was released this week.
- Michigan enters the Minnesota game at 3-1 overall and 0-1 in Big Ten play.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
