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Michigan seemingly left the door open for Justice Haynes to make a return to the field this year. If he does, it’s going to have to be after surgery. The Wolverines’ running back is set to have a procedure on his injured right foot this week, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported Sunday afternoon. While a timetable for Haynes’ return remains unclear, Zenitz added, “the current hope is to get him back at some point this season.” Haynes was sidelined for Michigan’s 21-16 win over Purdue on Saturday after rumors circulated earlier in the week about a serious injury. Sure enough, the Alabama transfer was spotted on the field before the game with a scooter and walking boot covering his right foot. Michigan coach Sherrone Moore told the school’s pregame radio show that Haynes would “be out for a little bit” without detailing the nature of the injury. “We’ll see exactly how long that will be,” Moore said after the game. Michigan (7-2, 5-1 Big Ten) enters its second bye week of the season, an opportunity for the banged up Wolverines to get healthy. In addition to Haynes, they played without a pair of starters on defense, linebacker Jimmy Rolder and safety Rod Moore, due to injury, and lost starting linebacker Jaishawn Barham during the first series of the game. With Haynes sidelined, Michigan will continue to turn to redshirt freshman Jordan Marshall, who ran for a career-high 185 yards and three touchdowns in Saturday’s victory. Marshall has topped 100 yards rushing in three straight games. Despite missing 2.5 games due to injury this year, Haynes sits second in the Big Ten in rushing yards (857) and rushing touchdowns (10). He suffered an abdominal injury in Michigan’s Oct. 11 loss at USC. Michigan will next play on Saturday, Nov. 15, against Northwestern at Chicago’s Wrigley Field.
