ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan football could be without its top running back for some time.
Justice Haynes, fresh off a career game over Michigan State last weekend, was sidelined for Saturday's 21-16 win over Purdue with an apparent injury to his right foot.
Haynes was ruled out by the Wolverines in the pregame player availability report submitted to the Big Ten, then spotted on the field pregame with a scooter and cast over his right foot. Michigan coach Sherrone Moore told the school's pregame radio show that Haynes "will be out for a little bit," but declined to say for how long after.
"We'll see," Moore told reporters.
Michigan (7-2, 5-1 Big Ten) won without Haynes on Saturday, getting another big game on the ground from backup Jordan Marshall, who turned 25 carries into a career-high 185 yards and three touchdown.
Marshall's big day not only made up for Haynes' absence, but it covered up an underwhelming game through the air: Quarterback Bryce Underwood finished 13 of 22 for 145 yards and an interception.
"Outstanding," Moore said of Marshall's game, reciting his stat line aloud. "And he's only had one tackle for loss."
Still, Haynes had become known as Michigan's home-run threat, a back capable of breaking a big run at any moment. His 857 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns led the Big Ten ahead of Saturday's action, despite missing the second half of the Oct. 11 loss at USC and full Washington game with an abdominal injury.
Marshall has capitalized on Haynes' absence, posting three straight games of more than 100 yards rushing, a stretch that has the redshirt freshman back averaging 6.6 yards per carry and five scores.
"It's not a surprise," linebacker Ernest Hausmann said. "We all know what Jordan is capable of. We go against him every single day in practice. It's not a surprise to our whole team, what he did out there on the field today. We all know what he does."
Fortunately for Haynes, he'll get an additional week of rest before Michigan has to play another game. The Wolverines are on a bye next week before returning to action on Nov. 15 at Northwestern (Wrigley Field), with a road game at Maryland set for Nov. 22 and the regular-season finale against Ohio State on Nov. 29.
Could Haynes return for the Buckeyes? It's possible, but Moore wasn't ready todivulge much Saturday night.