Unbelievably, Jairus Jones remains on track to return from a severe lower-leg injury suffered during spring practice. Unfortunately for Jones, one of his Michigan State teammates has not been so fortunate injury-wise.
As for Jones, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon this past April and, needless to say, it was thought the defensive back could very well miss the entire 2011 season. In June, head coach Mark Dantonio that Jones could be available at some point during the season. Now, the coach is looking at possibly the first month of the year.
Dantonio said at the Big Ten’s media days Thursday that Jones is “way ahead of schedule” in his recovery and could return at some point in September, although the start of conference early the next month may be a more realistic goal.
“I don’t know that he is going to be able to go through August and scrimmage and everything, but I do think he can do everything by September,” Dantonio said. “Hopefully we’ll have him back by the end of September or early October for the start of the Big Ten season.”
Then again, most thought Jones, who was expected to battle for one of the starting safety jobs in summer camp, would not be available at all in ’11, so I wouldn’t go ruling out early September just yet.
On the opposite side of the injury ledger, however, there’s Zach Hueter. According to Dantonio, the right offensive tackle has been forced to retire from the game of football due to recurring shoulder issues. The junior started the spring game and would’ve stood a very good shot at landing a starting job during camp, but the multiple injuries will preclude that from taking place.
“We’re going to miss Zach, because he was a guy that, finally, this past spring was able to play and get through 15 practices,” the coach said. “He put himself in position to play and sort of be the co-starter. He’ll become a student assistant for us, and he’ll continue to add to our football program in that respect. This would be his fifth surgery that he’ll have to have on that shoulder. That’s a tough situation.”
The shoulder issues sidelined Hueter each of the past two seasons.