EAST LANSING ~ Michigan State came out of the weekend with two significant setbacks, dropping its first Big Ten game and losing redshirt senior running back Cam Edwards for the season after an early injury against Nebraska, leaving first‑year head coach Pat Fitzgerald and an overhauled roster to adjust quickly.
“We’re disappointed for him. He’s been absolutely outstanding,” head coach Pat Fitzgerald told media on Monday. Edwards caught a short pass in the first quarter against Nebraska and ran 23 yards before the season-ending hit. In the 13 quarters Edwards played for the Spartans, he led the team in scrimmage yards and touchdowns, anchoring an offense still finding its identity.
The loss forces immediate changes in a position group that had already been rotating heavily. Fitzgerald had emphasized a “next man up” strategy with heavy rotation within positions, which demands players “to be ready for the opportunity when it presents itself.” Senior Jaziun Patterson and sophomore Marvis Parrish filled in when Edwards left for the medical tent, and the running back depth chart will continue to shift as MSU prepares for Wisconsin.
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Fitzgerald said Edwards’ outlook remained positive and that he was “ready to attack” recovery. As a redshirt senior, his future eligibility is uncertain, depending on whether he pursues a medical redshirt and how his recovery progresses. Fitzgerald noted that injuries are part of the sport, adding, “It teaches you some really, really challenging and difficult life lessons, and I know through tough times he’ll be better because of it.”
The Spartans’ ability to adjust will be tested Saturday, Oct. 3 at 12:30pm in Madison against Wisconsin.
