Michigan’s biggest star is set to undergo foot surgery less than four weeks before The Game.
247Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported Sunday that Michigan’s top running back, Justice Haynes, will undergo surgery to repair a foot injury. The Wolverines hope to get him back at some point this season, per Zenitz, but it’s unclear whether he’ll be available to play against Ohio State on Nov. 29.
Michigan star running back Justice Haynes is set to undergo surgery to repair a foot injury, sources tell @CBSSports.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) November 2, 2025
Recovery timetable is TBD but the current hope is to get him back at some point this season. Leads P4 running backs with an average of 122 yards per game. pic.twitter.com/rj7swAj3ZC
Haynes rushed for 857 yards and 10 touchdowns on 121 carries in Michigan’s first seven games of the season, but was sidelined for the Wolverines’ game against Purdue on Saturday due to his foot injury. After rumors surfaced last week that Haynes had broken his foot, he wore a boot on his injured foot while using a scooter to keep weight off of that foot while on the sideline Saturday.
With Haynes sidelined, backup running back Jordan Marshall stepped up to rush for 185 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries in Michigan’s 21-16 win vs. the Boilermakers.
Marshall has rushed for 729 yards and eight touchdowns on 124 carries this season, so he’s capable of taking over the starting role for as long as Haynes is out. The Wolverines’ running back depth behind him is suspect, however, as no other Michigan RB has more than 16 carries this season.
If Haynes is unable to play against Ohio State, it wouldn’t be the first time in recent years that Michigan has been without at least one of its biggest stars for The Game. Tight end Colston Loveland and cornerback Will Johnson were both sidelined for Michigan’s 13-10 win in Columbus last year, while running back Blake Corum ran the ball just twice before he was sidelined for the rest of the day in Michigan’s 45-23 win over Ohio State in 2022. So Haynes missing The Game wouldn’t guarantee success for Ohio State as the Buckeyes look to snap their four-game losing streak against the Wolverines.
That said, his absence will make the road tougher for Michigan for however many games he misses as the Wolverines need to finish their regular season with wins over Northwestern, Maryland and Ohio State to keep their College Football Playoff and Big Ten Championship hopes alive.
