CB Will Johnson, QB Jack Tuttle out against MSU

It’s official: Michigan football will be without star cornerback Will Johnson in Saturday’s rivalry game against Michigan State (7:30 p.m., Big Ten Network).

Johnson, who entered the season as a projected top-10 NFL draft pick, left last week’s game at Illinois with a foot injury in the first half. Head coach Sherrone Moore called him “questionable” on Monday, while defensive line coach LaMar Morgan suggested on Wednesday that Johnson was limited in what he could do and would try to work his way back throughout the week.

Johnson’s expected absence was first reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Johnson was one of nine Wolverines excluded in the pregame availability report that Big Ten teams provide to the league office at least two hours before each game. Michigan’s list also included quarterback Jack Tuttle and wide receiver Amorion Walker.

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Johnson, who also missed the Week 5 game against Minnesota, has allowed 16 catches on 26 targets for 195 yards in six games; statistically a notable step back from last season, when he allowed just 17 catches on 37 targets for 267 yards in 12 games.

Still, Johnson has allowed an NFL passer rating of just 52.6 this season as he has had two pass breakups and two interceptions, both of which were returned for touchdowns. He holds a UM record for pick-sixes (three) in a career.

It will likely be up to Aamir Hall, a transfer from FCS level Albany, to start opposite sophomore Jyaire Hill and try to slow down the MSU transition attack.

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“We have a big library of things we can do here,” Morgan said Wednesday. “Every week you discover which opponents are doing well and what we can do well against those guys. I think that’s pretty much it. … It’s like you love chocolate cake, but your wife isn’t really good at chocolate cake. You’re probably not going to ask her to do that for you. But if she makes a really good banana pudding that’s just as delicious, she’ll probably make that too.

“You can’t throw away a whole game plan if (Johnson) plays or doesn’t play. I know he’s working on playing this weekend, but I think the game plan against Illinois didn’t change when Will went out. We made the same calls that we would do it when he’s there. Everyone gets the same reps throughout the week. We try to spread it out evenly so the guys are prepared and ready to go.

Although rumors circulated Friday evening that quarterback Davis Warren was in line for the start, it wasn’t 100% clear until it was reported that Tuttle is unavailable for the game. He walked with the quarterbacks on the sideline during pre-game warmups, but was dressed in all black.

Tuttle came on to replace Alex Orji, who will serve as the backup, in a 27-17 loss to Washington. The seventh-year quarterback got his first career start last week at UM vs. Illinois, but committed a pair of turnovers for the second time in as many games as Michigan lost 21-7.

UM’s wide receiver corps could be thinned without Walker, who has three catches for 34 yards, while Kenderick Bell is questionable. The secondary is also thinned out, again without Jaden Mangham and Micah Pollard, while Quentin Johnson is questionable.

Defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny has also been ruled out for the second straight time.

The good news is that left tackle Myles Hinton has been completely removed from the injured list, meaning he will be ready to go. The senior missed the past two losses at both Washington and Illinois; he traveled to Champaign a week ago and was dressed for warmups but did not participate.

Tony Garcia is the Michigan Glutton beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him [email protected] and follow him on X @RealTonyGarcia.