MSU's Harlon Barnett updates status of several injured Spartans

After an offseason spent trying to avoid injuries, Michigan State football has once again been bit hard by the injury bug at the onset of the 2023 season.

Starting quarterback Charles Brantley left the game in the second quarter of the Spartans' 41-7 loss to No. 8 Washington and did not return. Tight end Tyneil Hopper was carted off the field in the fourth quarter after making a catch near the goal line on MSU's lone scoring drive.

Additionally, running backs Jalen Berger and Jaren Mangham were both held out of the game and did not dress. Berger injured his lower right leg in the second quarter of Week 2's game against Richmond, and was undressed and in a walking boot on the sideline against Washington. Mangham, meanwhile, has yet to play a down for the Spartans.

At his press conference on Tuesday, acting head coach Harlon Barnett provided an update on all four of those players.

"Tyneil, he had surgery," Barnett said. "I spoke with he and his mom a couple nights ago after the surgery, and he's doing well, he's in good spirits.

"Chuck will be fine. He'll be fine. It's nothing major with Chuck. Berger and Mangham are probably still a week away, probably. But they're working hard at it and looking to get back soon."

Hopper posted pictures on social media on Sunday morning from a hospital bed with his lower right leg immobilized. Given the openness with which Barnett addressed the injury, it's safe to assume the Boise State transfer is lost for the season.

Thank you for all the prayers 🙏🏾 will be back better than ever‼️ #GOGREEN pic.twitter.com/x5nN0cI2yo
— Tyneil Hopper (@ty_2_fye) September 17, 2023

In Michigan State's availability report ahead of the Washington game, three other Spartans were listed as 'Out' for the season: defensive lineman Alex VanSumeren and offensive linemen Stanton Ramil and Gavin Broscious. It's likely that Hopper's name will join those three players on MSU's availability report ahead of this Saturday's game against Maryland.

In addition to the player's above, starting tailback Nathan Carter left the game twice against Washington, but returned both times. His health is vital for a Spartan backfield which has suddenly been stripped of depth. Carter rushed for a season-low 48 yards on 17 carries, and MSU finished with a total of 53 yards on the ground against the Huskies.

Michigan State's rush offense has struggled mightily during the Mel Tucker era without Kenneth Walker III in the backfield. In 23 games across three-plus seasons without Walker, the Spartans have averaged just over 104 yards per game on the ground.

Barnett said on Tuesday that offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic sent a text to him after the Washington game saying: "I'm going to be better."

"I said, 'I'm going to be better'," Barnett said of his reply to Kapilovic. "That's how coaches are. He just hit me up, but that's just how coaches are though. All of us are looking to be better. He was one of them [who reached out], as well as some others.

"That's what I love about our staff. Everybody takes it upon themselves and says, 'Hey, we need to get this done. We need to be better.' Elite coaching staff. It really is a good coaching staff."

Three other players were injured against Washington. Defensive lineman Dre Butler left the game twice with an apparent right shoulder injury, while offensive linemen Geno VanDeMark (head) and Keyshawn Blackstock (left arm) exited but later returned.

Other Spartans who did not dress in Week 3 include defensive end James Schott; defensive tackle Jarrett Jackson; defensive backs Caleb Coley and Semar Melvin; linebackers Ma’a Gaoteote, Harold Joiner III and Quavian Carter; and true freshman offensive lineman Cole Dellinger.

On a more positive note, one player who made his highly-anticipated return to the playing surface was linebacker Darius Snow. The junior suffered a severe, season-ending right leg injury in Michigan State's 2022 season-opener against Western Michigan, and missed the first two games of the 2023 season.

Snow was part of the Spartans' goal line defensive package on Saturday and finished with two tackles against the Huskies.

“I'm very excited that he's back,” Barnett said of Snow, whom he coached at safety before he was converted to linebacker. “I love me some Darius Snow, Mr. Snow Flurry is what I call him. But he's a very, very, very smart football player. And he's tough, he's a good tackler. And so he was so excited when he got cleared last week, running around telling everybody, 'I'm cleared, I'm cleared!' … He busted his butt to be able to get back, because they were at one time saying he wouldn't be able to get back until midseason.”

Wide receiver Alante Brown also returned against Washington. Brown went through concussion protocol after being knocked out of Michigan State's season-opener against Central Michigan and was held out of the game against Richmond.

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