Injuries are going to be difficult to track over the first few weeks of the season.The Big Ten no longer requires its teams to release any availability reports for non-conference games. Once conference play rolls around, teams will post one a day, starting three days before each game (that would mean Wednesday for a Saturday game). Michigan State’s head coach Pat Fitzgerald talks with a referee during the third quarter in the game against Toledo on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectMichigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald is ruthlessly compliant with that and has skirted around injury updates during press conferences (I'd do the same thing in his shoes, in fairness). There are still a couple of names to keep an eye on, availability-wise, ahead of the Spartans' Week 2 game against Eastern Michigan:LB Dion CrawfordSep 7, 2024; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Brady Cook (12) leaps over Buffalo Bulls linebacker Dion Crawford (18) and runs in for a touchdown during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters ConnectThe biggest absence on Friday was linebacker Dion Crawford. He's a transfer from Buffalo and has been projected to be a key part of the team's defensive rotation. Crawford was in street clothes during MSU's opener against Toledo, though. Crawford finished with 80 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and one forced fumble last year at Buffalo while playing outside linebacker. The year before that, Crawford was a very effective pass rusher, racking up 8.5 sacks and 15.0 tackles for loss. Crawford received Third Team All-MAC honors that season. Michigan State’s Brady Pretzlaff, center, watches the Toledo quarterback during the first quarter on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectBrady Pretzlaff's emergence should help offset Crawford's absence. He was a surprise starter during Friday's game, and Pretzlaff only missed one defensive snap during the first game of his redshirt sophomore season. Pretzlaff's five tackles were tied for the most on the team.LB Jordan HallSep 4, 2026; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans linebacker Jordan Hall (5) tackles Toledo Rockets running back CJ Miller (22) during the game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectStar linebacker Jordan Hall also got dinged up during the season opener. He came off the field one time holding his right arm, and then came back onto the field with a bulky cast around his elbow. Hall then seemed to get hurt again at another point in the game. Ultimately, he was held to just 25 of 45 possible defensive snaps.Hall is pretty used to playing through injury, though. He suffered both turf toe and a torn oblique last year and still never missed a game, rarely even missing a snap during the later portions of the season. Still, keep an eye on Hall this Saturday to see how close to 100% he may be.WR Samson GashMichigan State receiver Samson Gash runs after a catch during football practice on Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, in East Lansing. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectAnother notable player who was unavailable this past Friday was wide receiver Samson Gash. Gash wasn't guaranteed to play against Toledo, but his speed and 4-star status would have made him a candidate. Safety Jonathan Granby, the lowest-rated scholarship player in MSU's 2026 recruiting class, was the only true freshman to play in the season opener -- he appeared on special teams.Gash's absence may date back to a hamstring injury he suffered over the summer while finishing the track and field season with Detroit Catholic Central. He practiced during fall camp without a non-contact jersey, but there's always a chance he doesn't feel game-ready.RB Cam EdwardsMichigan State running back Cam Edwards (0) runs against Toledo cornerback Israel Petite (23) during the first half at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectThere is also some wear and tear to worry a bit about with running back Cam Edwards. He finished his Michigan State debut with a whopping 29 touches (27 carries, two receptions) for 105 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. Edwards, a transfer from UConn, took a lot of hits and needed attention on the field at one point, though he returned to the game after that.Pat Fitzgerald still does (and should) view Edwards as a star, workhorse running back, but MSU would probably be wise to dial the carries down a bit in Week 2. Edwards' 27 carries against Toledo were a career high for him. It's probably best if the Spartans get key reserves Marvis Parrish, Jaziun Patterson, and Brandon Tullis a bit more involved against Eastern Michigan.LT Ben MurawskiMichigan State's Ben Murawski and the rest of the offensive line participate in a drill during spring football practice on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in East Lansing. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectThe status of starting left tackle Ben Murawski is another big one. He was out for most of the second half against Toledo, though he did pop back up with the field goal team once later in the game. Murawski is another transfer from UConn known as a mauler in the run game, and he could easily become MSU's best offensive lineman this season.As for the protocol for what the Spartans do if Murawski isn't available, the plan against Toledo was to move Rakeem Johnson from right tackle to Murawski's spot. Then, Robert Wright Jr. filled in at right tackle for Johnson. Rustin Young and Collin Campbell are two other players on the roster who could play left tackle.Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow