Michigan football vs Rutgers availability report: 5 starters questionable

Michigan football is looking to get back on track but may be short-handed for its next game.

>Michigan (4-3, 1-3 Big Ten) has five starters questionable for its game Saturday, Oct. 31, with Rutgers (2-5, 1-3), two who are probable and one that's definitively out. Among those who are questionable are safety Rod Moore, defensive tackle Enow Etta, tackle Blake Frazier and edge rushers John Henry Daley and Dom Nichols according to the team's availability report.

>Tackle Andrew Sprague will not play.

>Rutgers will be without starting quarterback Dylan Lonergan, and standout 6-foot-6 receiver KJ Duff is doubtful to play. Duff leads the Scarlet Knights with 45 receptions for 774 yards (17.2 yards per catch) and nine scores.

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Michigan football availability report vs RutgersOut:

WR Kendrick Bell • >WR Braydon Alford • >RB Micah Ka'apana • >DE Julius Holly • >OL Ace Hamilton • >OL Andrew SpragueQuestionable:

S Rod Moore • >S Jordan Young • >DE Dom Nichols • >DT Enow Etta • >OL Blake Frazier • >DE John Henry DaleyProbable:

LB Troy Bowles • >OL Jake GuarneraREAD MORE: Michigan's dominant defense led by 'genius' coordinator

>Safety Rod Moore played just six games last week after appearing to injure his ankle the week prior against Penn State on an interception. The three-time captain was a game-time decision ahead of last week's loss to Indiana, but did not play.

>“I feel good [about his chances to play]. I mean, obviously, see how he feels today," safeties coach Tyler Stockton said Wednesday. "Practiced a little bit yesterday. Obviously with Rod, with his history, it’s a day-to-day deal. But he’s a he’s a warrior, and that’s what you love about him.

>"There’s no sitting out. He’s like, I’m gonna find a way to play to help my teammates.”

>Frazier and Nichols both missed last week. Frazier has been a mainstay on the offensive line and in his absence, U-M started freshman Marky Walbridge at right tackle.

>Nichols also missed the game after having been listed as questionable for a handful of weeks prior. Without the starting edge rusher, Benny Patterson played a larger role, seeing a career-high 36 snaps.

>Now, U-M could possibly be missing its other edge rusher, too, with Daley listed questionable. His ailment is unclear, but he had Achilles surgery that ended his season last year and held him out of winter workouts and spring practice as he rehabbed. He has come up on the availability report before, but hasn't missed a game.

>Etta was listed as a game-time decision last week. He played, but his workload was scaled back to 25 snaps after playing 37 or more in every game but one in 2026.

>Linebacker Troy Bowles and center Jake Guarnera are both listed as probable. Bowles has been the team's best linebacker this season and leads the team with 55 tackles. Guarnera has been perhaps the most consistent player on U-M's offensive line, which has used five different starter combinations in seven games.

>Tony Garcia is the Michigan beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.

>This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football vs Rutgers availability report: 5 starters questionable