Branden Dawson Injury: Updates on Michigan State Star's Status and Return

Michigan State star Branden Dawson was injured during the Spartans' contest vs. Purdue on March 4, per Sean Merriman of the Big Ten Network. He has been cleared to return.

Continue for updates.

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Dawson Cleared to Return

Wednesday, March 11

Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press reported Dawson is free of concussion symptoms and will play on Friday. Rexrode added the following details:

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Dawson took part in most of practice Tuesday and in everything but the rebounding "war" drill today, he said, and will try to emulate his performance from a year ago, when he was named the Big Ten tournament's most outstanding player in leading MSU to a championship game win over Michigan.

MSU coach Tom Izzo said that Dawson has had no issues this week, after an elbow shot from Purdue big man Isaac Haas knocked him out for the final 28 minutes of last Wednesday's Senior Night win over Purdue. Dawson tried to talk his way into Saturday's win at Indiana, but Dr. Jeff Kovan held him out, based on a series of tests.

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On March 9, Tom Izzo commented on Dawson, via Rexrode: "'I expect him to be able to play.' Did some things yesterday, will today as well and be evaluated."

Brent Yarina of the Big Ten Network showed how Dawson's injury occurred:

After the game, Rexrode reported from Izzo that Dawson was "out of it" and that he hoped to have an update on his status the following day.   

Dawson had suffered a sprained wrist during December 17's victory over Eastern Michigan. When he missed nine games in 2013-14 due to a hand injury, Sparty was 4-5 without him.

Losing Dawson would have hurt considering he's averaging 12 points per game and leads the team in rebounding at 9.6 per night.

The Spartans are a perimeter-oriented team with a guard trio of Dawson, Denzel Valentine and Travis Trice doing the majority of the team's scoring, but Dawson adds an athletic element that the team otherwise lacks.