Michigan Wolverines news: Key injury updates, Kris Jenkins return and more

The Michigan football team had another practice session open to the media, plus more in our news roundup about the Michigan Wolverines. 

It was sort of a busy news day for the Michigan Wolverines and it wasn’t all good. The Michigan football team took part in Fiesta Bowl media day and had another open portion of practice.

We are now just one day away from the 2022 Fiesta Bowl and the College Football Playoff. And there is good news coming from the Michigan football side of things.

Earlier this week, there were reports of A.J. Henning and Andrel Anthony both being in street clothes on Tuesday. Yet, both were seen on the field going through drills in the Thursday practice, so that makes you feel better about their chances of playing Saturday.

Mike Morris told Chris Balas of The Wolverine that he was “95 percent” healthy. That’s huge for Michigan football going into this matchup against TCU. The pass rush will be vital and Morris is also one of Michigan’s best run defenders.

Few edge players set the edge quite like Morris does. That will be important against the TCU running game and it will be nice to have the defensive line at full strength.

Key returners for Michigan football in 2023

Another key player in this game is going to be defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, who has put together another really strong season.

It wouldn’t surprise anyone if he decided to put his name in the NFL draft but Jenkins has said that he’s coming back next season according to multiple reports and that’s huge news for Michigan football moving forward.

Thinking about a defensive front of Jenkins, Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, and Rayshaun Benny is pretty exciting and those guys are huge reasons for Michigan’s elite run defense, along with Mazi Smith who wil be heading for the NFL draft.

German Green, the twin brother of Gemon Green, has also had surgery and is going to come back next season, which could help convince Gemon to return. That would basically end any need Michigan football might have for a cornerback in the transfer portal.

We don’t want to jump to any conclusions because Gemon is good enough to go to the NFL and get drafted — no doubt about it. But maybe he’ll want to stick around in Ann Arbor and play alongside his brother for one more year.

Can’t blame a guy for hoping right?

Ugly loss for Michigan Wolverines to Central Michigan

The ugly headline of the day was caused by the Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball team which lost as a 21-point favorite at home to Central Michigan.

It feels like rock bottom for a team that has struggled all season long. Michigan basketball nearly lost to Eastern Michigan, Ohio, and Lipscomb, so this result probably shouldn’t come as a surprise, although I had myself convinced we would see an inspired effort on Thursday night.

I don’t know what to say about this team. Unless it winds up winning 12-13 games in the Big Ten, I don’t see the NCAA tournament happening and that’s going to be a tall order, especially with the lack of effort this team has shown.

Maybe that won’t be an issue in Big Ten play, but the late-game execution has been awful as the Wolverines floundered late in four of their five losses.

Juwan Howard needs to get it figured out and soon. The season is on the brink.