Jim Harbaugh: Michigan QB Wilton Speight has 'cracks' in back (Update)
Update: Oct. 9 – 2:15 p.m.
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh reiterated Monday that quarterback Wilton Speight will be out for “multiple weeks,” but was unsure if Speight will be out for the remainder of the season. And in response to the report that Speight has broken vertebrae, Harbaugh said there are “some cracks” in the quarterback’s back.
“I don’t know that he’ll be out for the year. There are some cracks in there,” Harbaugh said. “That’s all I want to say.”
John O’Korn will carry on as the starting quarterback, Harbaugh said, despite throwing three interceptions in the loss to Michigan State during a rainy night in Ann Arbor.
Original story: Oct. 8 – 11:15 a.m.
Michigan could be looking at the possibility of John O’Korn being the team’s starting quarterback for the remainder of the season.
According to ESPN, Wilton Speight has three fractured vertebra in his back and could miss the rest of 2017. Speight injured his back two weeks ago vs. Purdue and was replaced by O’Korn, who was the team’s quarterback in Michigan State‘s upset win over the Wolverines on Saturday night.
Per the ESPN report, Speight will be evaluated in approximately a month and it’s still to be determined if he will need surgery for the fractures. Harbaugh previously said Speight would miss “multiple weeks.”
Speight won the starting job in fall camp. The senior is 44 of 81 passing for 581 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. He had thrown four passes vs. Purdue before he was injured.
O’Korn was 16 of 35 for 198 yards passing Saturday night and threw three interceptions. Despite Michigan’s five overall turnovers, the Wolverines still had one last chance to win the game on the final play. A Hail Mary throw to the end zone fell incomplete.
O’Korn is 35-62 passing for 505 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions. Michigan plays Indiana in Week 7.
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of Dr. Saturday and From the Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
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