Michigan’s latest injury update could be the worst loss of the Wolverines’ season with uncertainty surrounding biggest playmaker
The injury to Justice Haynes could be catastrophic for the Michigan Wolverines’ offense and puts a shadow over their upcoming matchup against Ohio State
The Michigan Wolverines have had a relatively successful 2025 campaign, sitting at 6-2 with some solid wins over Washington and Michigan State in recent weeks. They’ve mostly been healthy, and quarterback Bryce Underwood is way more enjoyable to watch than whoever Michigan was trying to play under center last year.
However, its latest injury problem could be catastrophic for the rest of its 2025 season, particularly clouding its matchup in The Game against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Running back Justice Haynes, who has already battled some nagging minor injuries this season, could likely be out for a significant amount of time this season with another injury, and this one seems more severe.
Head coach Sherrone Moore has stayed mum about updating anyone about Haynes’s injuries, saying, “We’ll see how he looks as we go through the week.”
However, sources say that Haynes has been spotted in a boot and traveling with a scooter. It sounds like Haynes could miss at least the next few games when the Wolverines take on Purdue and Northwestern, and perhaps beyond. Depending on the severity of his injury, Haynes could have already played his last snaps for the Wolverines as the NFL comes calling.
Justice Haynes’ injury could be catastrophic
It’s fair to say Haynes has been the best player on the Wolverines this season. I’ll go ahead and say that Haynes is the entire offense. Without his presence in the backfield, Michigan’s offense has sputtered due to a lack of explosives, and they’ve required turnovers to put teams away, especially against Washington.
Haynes has made chicken salad out of chicken…well, you get the idea, routinely this season. Even when Michigan’s offensive line blows blocks, he can make defenders miss and create yards in situations where they should lose yards. He’s been the engine of the entire offense the whole season and has taken a lot of pressure off Underwood.
With him out, Michigan will turn to Jordan Marshall, who has been effective but not nearly as explosive. Marshall has over 300 fewer yards on the ground on just nine fewer carries, and Michigan’s EPA/Rush falls from .30 with Haynes to .03 with Marshall. Their success rate on the ground falls from 48% to 37%. That’s equivalent to falling from second in the country to 60th in EPA/Rush and 12th to 120th in rushing success rate.
His absence will put more of the onus on Underwood to deliver as a passer after having just 86 yards last week against Michigan State. We’ll see if Haynes pushes to play sooner, but he’s put out enough quality film to likely be a Day 2 pick in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, and he might not want to risk further bothering his injury.
If he can’t play, their matchup against Ohio State gets that much harder and could mar the rest of their season.
Michigan Wolverines News
Former Michigan Wolverines star calls one Sherrone Moore decision coaching malpractice amid Bryce Underwood development
The wide receiver drops, especially from veteran WR Semaj Morgan continue hurting Bryce Underwood and Michigan
