Michigan football in wait-and-see mode with QB Cade McNamara's shoulder injury
Cade McNamara left Michigan football's 27-17 loss to Penn State on Saturday with a right shoulder injury, and his status remains uncertain, according to coach Jim Harbaugh.
“Yeah, Cade, we'll see or evaluate that as the week goes on here,” Harbaugh said during his weekly news conference Monday. “But don’t know. See how the recovery comes.”
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McNamara made his first career start against the Nittany Lions but appeared to suffer the injury when he scrambled on second-and-goal during Michigan's second possession. He stayed in the game and handed the ball off on the next play, but received immediate medical attention once he left the field and eventually went into the locker room.
Former starter Joe Milton ran the offense for two possessions before McNamara re-entered the game. Before his injury, he had completed 4-of-5 passes for 22 yards; after his return, he completed 8-of-20 passes for 69 yards. McNamara was eventually pulled in the fourth quarter during Michigan's final possession.
“As I said, Cade, really gutty performance to come back, but the shoulder did start to tighten up,” Harbaugh said after Saturday's loss. “I could see it. He was doing everything he could to stay in the game, but I just felt like that was tightening up and causing (pain). I felt like going to Joe was the best option for us.
“I can tell you this: Cade was doing everything he possibly could to rally the team and to play on when it really — he was, shoulder wasn’t — was tightening up on him. That was the reason.”
Linebacker Cameron McGrone, who was carted off the field in Michigan's win at Rutgers on Nov. 21 and missed the Penn State game, "is injured right now," according to Harbaugh.
The Wolverines were also without right tackle Jalen Mayfield, receiver Giles Jackson, center Andrew Vastardis and kicker Quinn Nordin.
Defensive Kwity Paye made his return against the Nittany Lions after missing the previous two games.
Contact Orion Sang at osang@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @orion_sang. Read more on the Michigan Wolverines and sign up for our Wolverines newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football in wait-and-see mode with QB Cade McNamara's injury
