Michigan State Depth Chart, Injury Report: Will the week off improve the team's health compared to Iowa?

Michigan State followed a trip to the West Coast with a week off.

The Spartans (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten) will now look to end their three-game losing streak when they host Iowa (4-2, 2-1) at home on Saturday (7:30 p.m., NBC).

A bye last week was a chance for Michigan State to regroup and rest after six straight weeks of one game. Even without facing an opponent, the Spartans lost starting tight end Michael Masunas for the remainder of the season due to shoulder surgery that sidelined him for the final two games.

It's unclear whether Michigan State will have new injury concerns heading into the game against the Hawkeyes or who might return. Linebacker Jordan Hall did not play at Oregon after being listed as questionable.

In addition to the season-ending injuries the Spartans have already suffered, receivers Alante Brown and Antoino Gates Jr. and defensive backs Chance Rucker, Ade Willie and Dillon Tatum have all missed consecutive games.

“I think the closest is Alante,” coach Jonathan Smith said on Monday about the possible return of players who have been out for a while. “We'll see. I hope he can come back by the end of the season. He’s moving around a little bit, but after being cleared to play a game, he’s not quite there yet.”

Here is a projection of Michigan State's depth chart before Saturday's game against Iowa:

quarterback

Starter: Aidan Chiles

Backup: Tommy Schuster

Other important information: Alessio Milivojevic, Ryland Jessee

Six starts into his career and Chiles' outlook remains the same. The sophomore needs to reduce turnover while showcasing his top talent more consistently. The way Saturday's game against Iowa looks, the Chileans will have to make big passing plays for the Spartans to win.

Run back

Starter: Nathan Carter OR Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams

Backups: Brandon Tullis, Makhi Frazier

Other important information: Joseph Martinez

It was essentially a two-man show for the first half of the season, and that would continue despite an underperforming running game. Carter has started every game this season and is captain, but Lynch-Adams pushed, outran and had more runs against Oregon. It's worth noting that Carter rushed for 108 yards on 20 carries in last year's loss at Iowa.

Full-back

Starter: Jay Coyne

Backup: Tyneil Hopper

Coyne only played two offensive snaps at Oregon.

Wide receiver

Starters: Montorie Foster, Nick Marsh, Jaron Glover

Backups: Aziah Johnson, Antonio Gates Jr., Jaelen Smith

Other important information: Jack Yanachik, Zach Gillespie

Marsh made a 44-yard catch on fourth down from the Oregon 2 on the first drive before Chiles made an error. Despite missing a game due to injury, the true freshman leads the Spartans with 320 receiving yards on 16 touchdown catches.

Tight end

Starters: Jack Velling, Brennan Parachek

Backups: Ademola Faleye, Tyneil Hopper

Other important information: Jaxson Wilson

With Masunas out for the season, Parachek will continue to get more snaps after being a starter in the final two games. Velling's six catches at Oregon tied a season high, but Michigan State's tight ends still haven't scored a touchdown this year.

Offensive line

Starters: LT Stanton Ramil, LG Luke Newman, C Tanner Miller, RG Brandon Baldwin, RT Ashton Lepo

Backups: Rakeem Johnson, Rustin Young, Dallas Fincher, Cooper Terpstra

Other important information: Andrew Dennis, Charlton Luniewski, Jacob Merritt

Ramil returned to the starting lineup at Oregon after missing a game, while Fincher got snaps at right guard and true freshman Rakeem Johnson played at both tackle positions.

Defensive tackle

Starters: D'Quan Douse, Alex VanSumeren

Backups: Maverick Hansen, Jalen Satchell, Ben Roberts, Ru'Quan Buckley

Other important information: Mikeshun Beeler, Ben Nelson

The Spartans were overwhelmed by Oregon's Jordan James, who rushed for a career-high 166 yards and a touchdown. Douse had four tackles, including two for a loss, against the Ducks as the Spartans continue to rotate heavily. They will be at the point of attack trying to slow down Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson, who is having an All-American season.

Defensive end

Starters: Khris Bogle, Jalen Thompson

Backups: Anthony Jones, Ken Talley, Quindarius Dunnigan

Other important information: Avery Dunn, James Schott, Kekai Burnett

After totaling 15 sacks in the first four games, Michigan State has had zero sacks in each of the last two games.

Linebackers

Starters: Cal Haladay, Jordan Turner

Backups: Jordan Hall, Wayne Matthews, Darius Snow

Other important information: Aaron Alexander, Marcellius Pulliam, Brady Pretzlaff, Sam Edwards

It was a tough game for Haladay and Turner against the Ducks, while Alexander made his defensive debut of the season and showed quickness at the rim. This group needs to be significantly better in the running game against Iowa.

Cornerback

Starters: Charles Brantley, Ed Woods

Backups: Jeremiah Hughes, Ade Willie, Andrew Brinson

Other important information: Caleb Coley

Brantley recorded nine tackles at Oregon and recorded his third interception of the season by fending off Dillon Gabriel at the goal line. The Spartans battled the Ducks all night long with Brantley and Woods.

Safety/Nickel Backing

Starters: Malik Spencer, Nikai Martinez, Angelo Grose

Backups: Armorion Smith, Justin Denson

Other important information: Aveon Grose, Jaylen Thompson, Brandon Lewis

Spencer made an impressive interception in the end zone against Gabriel for his first career pick, keeping the game scoreless in the first quarter. Spencer and Martinez both finished with seven tackles, while Denson, a true freshman, had a career-best four tackles and 32 defensive snaps.

Special teams

PK/KO: Jonathan Kim

P: Ryan Eckley

LS: Kaden Schickel

PR: Montorie Foster

KR: Kay'Ron Lynch-Adams

Michigan State doesn't benefit from the return game, but Kim and Eckley stood out. Eckley ranks second nationally in average yards per punt with 48.0 and Kim is 9 of 9 on field goals with two of at least 50 yards. A punt return touchdown by Iowa late in the fourth quarter was the difference in last year's loss on the road to the Hawkeyes.

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