Grant Newsome Injury: Updates on Michigan LT's Knee and Recovery

Joseph ZuckerOct 1, 2016

Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh announced Saturday that offensive tackle Grant Newsome suffered a right knee injury that may require surgery, according to MLive.com's Nick Baumgardner. He won't play again this year, and an official timeline for his recovery has yet to be revealed.

Continue for updates.

Newsome Out for Season

Monday, Oct. 3

"He had a serious knee injury, he'll be out for the year and it'll be a tough couple weeks for him," Harbaugh said Monday, per Baumgardner. Harbaugh continued:

"
It's a reminder of just how tough the game of football is. Just how serious injuries can be in the game of football. But what I do know is this: As far as character, human being character and football character, nobody's ever come through this football team or this university -- that I know of -- with more of it than [Newsome].
(His parents) Leon and Kim should write a book on raising kids. Grant is the finest. We're just praying for him right now. It's not a good feeling today at all.
[...]
It's as serious as a knee injury can be. Right now, it's just a reminder of how (serious) injuries can be in football. It's too early to tell. But Grant is special. If there's anybody that can come back, it would be Grant.
He's strong-willed, strong physically. It's in his hands and the doctors' hands. It's amazing what they're doing in the U of M Health System. They're miracle workers.
"

"He was blocking on the edge, and what he told me was he got cut right at his knee—I don't know if it was a helmet or what it was," Harbaugh said on Saturday, per Baumgardner. "But yeah, [I think] a surgical procedure will be needed."

Jake Long Tweets to Newsome

Saturday, Oct. 1

Newsome Will Be Difficult to Replace

According to Scout.com, Newsome was the No. 32-ranked tackle in the 2015 recruiting class. As a freshman, he appeared in five games for the Wolverines.

Newsome won the starting left tackle job this year. He helped Michigan rank 28th in rushing offense (229.8 YPG) and tie for 28th in sacks allowed (five) through the team's first four games.

Juwann Bushell-Beatty will likely take over at tackle in place of Newsome. The junior was a reserve for four games in his sophomore year.

Maintaining consistent pass protection is important for Michigan. Wilton Speight has done well at quarterback, and he's growing into the starting role.

Still, the junior can't single-handedly carry the Wolverines offense. If the offensive line can't keep him upright, that could become a major problem with difficult games against the Michigan State Spartans and Ohio State Buckeyes still to come.