Jim Harbaugh shared some troubling news on Wednesday about two of Michigan's key players heading into the 2019 season.
Junior wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones and senior defensive tackle Michael Dwumfour are both in danger of missing at least part of the season with injuries that are taking longer than expected to heal.
For Peoples-Jones, it's a soft-tissue groin injury. For Dwumfour, it's a torn plantar fascia in his foot.
Neither player needs surgery, Harbaugh said, but they've both been sidelined throughout the winter and spring and it's unclear when they'll return.
He said there's a possibility their respective injuries could hold them out for the season, per Matt Pargoff.
Harbaugh asked if Dwumfour and DPJ injuries could hold them out for the season. Said they could. Says neither requires surgery - soft tissue injuries - but worries when injuries linger. Says players are the best judge of what their bodies can do.
— Matt Pargoff (@MaizeBlueNews)
April 3, 2019 Dwumfour, for his part, said he was able to play through the injury at the end of last season and expects to "be back healthy very soon."
I did not tear my planta fascia in the bowl hame I tore it against Maryland and still played did not miss any games I don’t know where this false information is coming from. Rehab is going great I will be back healthy very soon in Jesus name!!
— Michael DwumFour (@HON5H0)
April 3, 2019 Either way, the injuries for both players are proving to be more serious than the team originally thought. And for Harbaugh, concern grows when recoveries take longer than expected.
"All indications that we're getting is they really can't do much at all," Harbaugh said. "You always hope for the best."
More Harbaugh on Donovan Peoples-Jones and Michael Dwumfour: "All indications that we're getting is they really can't do much at all. You always hope for the best."Says DPJ has had a soft-tissue groin injury. Dwumfour had a torn plantar fascia right before the bowl game.
— Orion Sang (@orion_sang)
April 3, 2019 Peoples-Jones, the nation's No. 1 wide receiver in the 2017 recruiting class, had a breakout season in 2018. He finished first on the team in receptions (47) and touchdowns (8) and second in yards (612). He's expected to play a big role in new offensive coordinator Josh Gattis' up-tempo, pass-oriented attack.
Dwumfour started all 13 games at defensive tackle last season, finishing with 21 tackles and three sacks. Michigan's counting on him to play the same role in 2019.
If there was any good news on the injury front from Harbaugh's press conference Wednesday, it's that wide receiver Nico Collins, who underwent surgery in the offseason, is "right on track" in his rehab."
Nico Collins is right on track in rehab -- Harbaugh
— angelique (@chengelis)
April 3, 2019 The junior led the team in receiving yards (632) last season and finished second to Peoples-Jones in both receptions (38) and touchdowns (6).
