On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
Michigan defensive back Will Johnson is not expected to play in Saturday’s game against Michigan State as he deals with an injury, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Johnson left last week’s game against Illinois with a lower body injury, and Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore described the player as being questionable coming into this week.
“I think right now, if I was a doctor, and I’m not a doctor, I’d put him as questionable,” Moore told reporters about Johnson’s condition this week.
He added: “We’ll see how he rolls this week.”
Michigan’s third-year cornerback has 14 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, three pass breakups, and two interceptions returned for touchdowns this season.
He was a principal contributor to Michigan’s defensive effort during the team’s national championship run last season, with 27 stops, 4 pass defenses, and 4 interceptions.
Michigan comes into this weekend’s game with a 4-3 overall record, on a 2-game losing streak in which the team scored 24 combined points, and sitting at 2-2 in Big Ten play this season.
Amid ongoing quarterback issues, the Wolverines rank 130th among 134 FBS teams in passing production with 128 yards per game, and are 113th nationally with 21.1 points on average.
Johnson’s absence is problematic for a Michigan secondary that has struggled at times this season, and as Michigan State has improved its own passing output in recent weeks.
More must-reads:
- Why reported College Football Playoff proposal is a terrible idea
- Packers HC bothered by rookie's 'unacceptable' behavior during preseason game
- The 'Most multi-HR games by MLB team' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
Seminoles' chances at beating Alabama to start the season just got a whole lot better but at the cost of an unfortunate situation
Sooners HC Brent Venables gave fans the perfect news they needed after having some PTSD from an eerie 2024 situation
Kansas vs Fresno State Prediction, Game Preview & Betting Lines 2025
Kansas is finally back at home. Thanks to a refurbishing of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, the Jayhawks haven't enjoyed a true home game since the middle of November in 2023. Now they have a shiny new look, a whole lot of money thanks to a massive donation, and they have a pretty good football team, too. Fresno State is in its last season as a Mountain West team before going off to the Pac-12 next year. It is also undergoing a redo with new head coach Matt Entz taking over a strong situation. It gets Georgia Southern up next in Week 1. Kansas vs Fresno State Prediction, Game Preview Betting Lines 2025 Kansas vs Fresno State How To Watch Date: Saturday, August 23, 2025 Game Time: 6:30 PM ET TV: FOX Location: David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, KS Why Fresno State Will Win Fresno State has the coach, along with the talent, to pull this off. Matt Entz won two national championships at North Dakota State, and now he's taking over a rebuilt attack with more depth and a few good pieces around transfer quarterback EJ Warner - Kurt Warner's kid. The Jayhawk pass defense should be a bit better, but it's coming off a terrible year and needs a slew of transfers to be ready right away. The other side has a strong enough secondary to hang with the new crop of Kansas receivers, the front should be a bother in the backfield, but ... Why Kansas Will Win Can Fresno State run the ball? It was the biggest issue last year, going 0-5 when it couldn't get to 90 yards, and the Jayhawks should be able to hold up on the line. Again, the secondary was the issue last year, but the glitch appears to be fixed. Hold up against a Fresno State bunch that didn't get a ton of help for the line, and all should be okay. The Kansas passing attack has a ton of new talent for Jalon Daniels to work with, there should be more explosion, and ... Kansas vs Fresno State: Who Will Win There are plenty of moving parts for both teams. Kansas needs the receiving corps and defensive backs to shine right away, and Fresno State has to get big days out of the linebackers and Warner. It should be a wee bit of a firefight. The Bulldog defense will keep this from getting out of reach, but Daniels and the ground game will find their footing late in the third quarter as they keep the pressure on. Kansas vs Fresno State Prediction, Betting Lines Kansas 34, Fresno State 20 Consensus Line: Kansas -12.5, o/u: 50.5 ATS Confidence out of 5: 3 Must See Rating: 3 Consensus Line from BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Patrik Laine Hints at Leaving the Montreal Canadiens in Free Agency in Home-Country Interview
Patrik Laine has recently done a major interview in his home country, and in that interview, he hinted at testing the waters in free agency next summer. The NHL career of Patrik Laine has been a very intriguing one to follow, as he has had mixed success in his time with the Winnipeg Jets, Columbus Blue Jackets and Montreal Canadiens, with the talented forward dealing with struggles on and off the ice in that time. However, things have turned around in recent times after he enjoyed a solid campaign with Montreal last season, and now, in an interview in his home country of Finland, he's opened up on many topics. Laine hints at testing free agency in 2026 While he's been very happy in Montreal, the 27-year old still has a very long future ahead of him in the National Hockey League, and with the former No. 2 overall pick set to be a free agent next summer, he's hinted that he may test the waters after not having the opportunity for quite some time. 'It's a little different from what I'm used to. Before, I've always just gone to whoever owns my rights. Next summer I get to decide for myself. It's a nice and great situation.' In the interview, Laine notes that he's usually just sticking with the team that owns his rights, but he'll now finally hit unrestricted free agency, and with so many teams around the NHL cashed up and looking for great wingers, it may be his time to cash in and get paid on a long-term deal. After 20 goals in 52 games a year ago, Laine flashed the talent that once made him the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, and if he can stay healthy next season and post 30 or more, he'll be one of the top names available. If that does happen though, the team at the top of the list offering him a big deal will be the Canadiens, so don't be shocked if he remains, but for right now, he's looking to get himself into a position to cash in next off-season.
TSN Analyst Shoots Down Bold Canadiens-Ducks Trade Idea
Speculation swirled this week about a possible blockbuster trade between the Montreal Canadiens and Anaheim Ducks, but TSN/Forbes legal analyst Eric Macramalla was quick to pour cold water on the idea. The proposed deal centered around swapping top prospects: Montreal defenseman David Reinbacher and Anaheim forward Mason McTavish. On the surface, the trade has appeal. Reinbacher, a right-shot blueliner with legitimate top-pairing potential, would give the Ducks the kind of defensive cornerstone they’ve been searching for. Meanwhile, McTavish could provide the Canadiens with a much-needed second-line center behind Nick Suzuki, filling a hole that’s lingered for several seasons. But as Macramalla pointed out, the trade simply doesn’t add up for Montreal. Moving Reinbacher would leave the Canadiens dangerously thin on the right side of their defense, an area that already lacks long-term depth. While McTavish would be a strong addition, sacrificing a potential top-pairing defenseman is a price too steep for GM Kent Hughes to consider at this stage of the rebuild. Ultimately, while the concept may generate fan debate, Macramalla stressed that the Canadiens aren’t in a position to weaken their blue line just to address their center depth. For now, the deal “won’t work.” Fan Feedback: A Split Reaction Canadiens fans were quick to weigh in on the trade chatter, with opinions ranging from firm rejection to cautious interest. Some backed Macramalla’s stance, with one fan suggesting Montreal could use “other assets the Ducks would like” and another noting the Habs’ young defense core “will be a strength of the team for the next decade.” The Curfew Boys Podcast called it “1 step forward, 2 steps back.” Others saw more merit. One account argued he’d, “Do it one for one,” calling McTavish “more established at this point.” Another echoed that sentiment: “McT is a proven player, make the trade!!” Skeptics highlighted Reinbacher’s lack of NHL experience, and others questioned his durability. Meanwhile, Gord of Thunder took a playful shot at the concept, invoking The Princess Bride: “You never trade a defenseman with top pairing ability for a second line player — it’s inconceivable.” Even creative alternatives emerged, with one fan proposing a three-way deal involving Calgary. The verdict? While many fans respect McTavish’s value, most agree that giving up Reinbacher would leave the Canadiens with a hole too big to fill.
Former UFL MVP Bryce Perkins signs with NFL team
Reigning UFL MVP Bryce Perkins has parlayed his success into an NFL job. Perkins, a former Arizona State and Virginia quarterback, is signing with the Carolina Panthers, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The move comes with Panthers backup Andy Dalton dealing with an elbow injury. Perkins won UFL MVP for the Michigan Panthers this past season, throwing for 1,342 yards and rushing for 269 more in seven games. He was a key factor as Michigan reached the UFL championship game. This will not be the first time Perkins has garnered some time on an NFL roster. He spent three seasons on the Los Angeles Rams roster as a depth quarterback, and even played in five games during the 2022 season as the Rams were hit hard by injuries. The 28-year-old dual-threat quarterback is the latest in a group of players who have raised their profiles with success in one of the various football leagues that are played in the NFL offseason. PJ Walker turned a successful stint in the XFL into four NFL seasons. Notably, the Panthers were the ones who signed Walker out of the XFL as well. Dalton suffered a right elbow injury during Saturday’s preseason game against the Houston Texans. It is unclear how serious the injury is, but the Panthers are concerned enough that they wanted to shore up their quarterback depth.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
