A closer-than-expected win over Indiana could prove to be costly in the short-term for Michigan State.
In the first quarter of what turned out to be a four-point win, tight end Dion Sims suffered an ankle injury and did not return. Instead, the junior spent the remainder of the game in street clothes on the sidelines.
Head coach Mark Dantonio hinted that Sims could miss time beyond this week, although an official update on Sims’ status for this weekend’s game against Iowa could come early this week.
The man who’s come to lean heavily on the TE in the passing game, though, talked as though he’d be without his safety blanket for the foreseeable future.
“It’s no secret that Dion’s been a big weapon for us, but what a great opportunity for our tight ends who have played behind him -- Paul Lang, Andrew Gleichert, Derek Hoebing -- guys who have worked their butts off every day,” starting quarterback Andrew Maxwell said. “It’s going to open up the competition at that position.”
Lang is listed as the No. 2 TE on the most recent depth chart, and caught the first and only pass of his career in last week’s loss to Ohio State.
Sims leads the Spartans in receptions (24), receiving yards (313) and touchdown catches (two).