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Michigan State’s injury problems have become a central storyline ahead of Week 5, and one absence in particular could open the door for Wisconsin’s QB Colton Joseph to have a big rushing day. With star running back Cam Edwards out for the season and several Spartans sidelined, the Badgers may face a noticeably weakened front seven in Madison.
Spartan injury report deepens
Pat Fitzgerald confirmed this week that running back Cam Edwards will miss the remainder of the season. That loss has drawn the most attention, but it is far from the only concern for Michigan State.
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The Spartans listed seven players as ruled out for Saturday, and multiple others are questionable. Game-day availability could see several starters absent, leaving a noticeably thinned roster against Wisconsin.
Why one doubtful linebacker matters
Jordan Hall is currently listed as doubtful, and his potential absence carries outsized implications.
Hall has made a rapid defensive impact despite limited appearances. He ranks second on Michigan State with 21 tackles and has been credited with 13 defensive “stops” by Pro Football Focus. In the Notre Dame matchup alone, he recorded eight stops.
Used primarily as an inside linebacker, Hall lines up in the box and rarely blitzes off the edge. His strength is diagnosing runs and finishing tackles, functions that help anchor the Spartans’ front against mobile quarterbacks and read-option attacks.
How that could benefit Colton Joseph
Wisconsin’s offense leans on Joseph’s mobility and the read-option. When inside linebackers struggle to read and react, Joseph can find the perimeter space the play design intends to create.
Usage patterns this season suggest the Badgers have not asked Joseph to carry as often as in prior years. Last fall, through four games, he totaled 367 rushing yards at Old Dominion; this season he has accumulated 121 rushing yards thus far in 2026.
If Hall sits, Michigan State may lose its best internal run defender. That would reduce the Spartans’ ability to scrape to the edges and limit quarterbacks on designed runs.
Other Wisconsin ball-carriers could also benefit. Halfbacks such as Darrion Dupree — and Abu Sama, if available — may find more lanes, though the ultimate outcome will depend heavily on the Badgers’ offensive-line execution.
Put simply: without Hall setting the interior tone, Wisconsin’s ground game—especially plays built around Colton Joseph—stands to gain a clear advantage. Joseph could be positioned for one of his most productive rushing outings in the Cardinal and White.
