Michigan State football's Jayden Reed returns vs. Penn State; still no Jalen Nailor

Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press
·2 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

EAST LANSING — Jayden Reed is in, Jalen Nailor remains out.

No. 13 Michigan State football has one of quarterback Payton Thorne’s receivers back, and the Spartans have running back Kenneth Walker III in uniform for Saturday’s game against Penn State.

Reed sat out the second half of last week’s 56-7 loss at No. 3 Ohio State and was on the sideline wearing a walking boot on his right foot. He went through warmups Saturday at both receiver and kick returner.

Michigan State's Jayden Reed, left, celebrates his touchdown against Nebraska with teammate Jalen Nailor during the second quarter on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.
Michigan State's Jayden Reed, left, celebrates his touchdown against Nebraska with teammate Jalen Nailor during the second quarter on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.

Nailor, who was on the sideline in a sweatsuit during warmups, remains out for the fourth straight game after getting hurt in MSU’s win over Michigan on Oct. 31. He continues to wear a wrap on the injured right hand.

CHRIS SOLARI: MSU may have defied expectations, Mel Tucker expects more

Walker, who got just six carries last week and only one after halftime before going to the bench, went through warmups

MSU also is without linebacker Quavaris Crouch, who tried to play through a right knee injury last week. Others who remain out are defensive tackle Simeon Barrow (undisclosed), left tackle Jarrett Horst (undisclosed medical) and cornerback Chuck Brantley (shoulder). Cornerback Marqui Lowery, who did some early warmups to try and stretch out a nagging left leg injury that has bothered him all season, did not return in uniform for full-team warmups.

A report from a national reporter for a gambling website, citing anonymous sources late Friday night, said the Spartans are dealing with a case of the the "flu but & rash of injuries & may be w/out up to 20 players, including possibly 6-8 starters.” The betting line, which had the Nittany Lions as a 1-point favorite, swelled to as many 6 after the report.

MSU (9-2, 6-2 Big Ten) and PSU (7-4, 4-4) kick off at 3:30 p.m. The game will be televised on ABC.

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: MSU's Jayden Reed returns vs. Penn State; still no Jalen Nailor