Michigan State football's Jayden Reed in uniform for game vs. Minnesota

EAST LANSING — Jayden Reed is in uniform for Michigan State football, but the senior wide receiver remains a game-time decision for the 21st-ranked Spartans against Minnesota on Saturday.

However, MSU also is without two starters on the other side of the ball as defensive tackle Jacob Slade and defensive end Jeff Pietrowski are not in uniform for the Big Ten opener against the Gophers (3:30 p.m./BTN).

Pietrowski left last week’s 39-28 loss at Washington in the first quarter with a lower left leg injury and wore a walking boot when he returned to the sidelines in street clothes. Neither Reed nor Slade traveled to Seattle.

Pietrowski has six tackles and three QB hurries on the season. Slade has three tackles on the season but is an anchor in MSU’s run defense. The Spartans have defensive end Michael Fletcher and defensive tackle Dashaun Mallory in uniform for the first time this season to go against running back Mohamed Ibrahim and Minnesota’s No. 2-ranked rushing offense. Defensive end Avery Dunn also is back after missing the past two games.

Reed suffered an apparent back injury after landing hard on his left hip and sliding into the corner of a metal bench late in the first half of the Spartans’ 52-0 loss against Akron on Sept. 10. He did not return in that game, and the BTN broadcast said he had a laceration and is wearing a tape job on his lower back. Reed, who also suffered a hard fall on the same left hip in the opener against Western Michigan, has eight catches for 107 yards and touchdown this season.

MSU continues to remain without safety Xavier Henderson, who has not played with an unspecified injury since the first half of the opener against WMU. Linebacker Darius Snow is out for the season. Among others who are out Saturday is safety Tate Hallock, who plays on special teams units.

Cornerback Marqui Lowery and tight end Evan Morris also are in uniform after missing the Washington game.

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Read more on the Michigan State Spartans and sign up for our Spartans newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State football's Jayden Reed in uniform vs. Minnesota