MSU's Jack Conklin does not have season-ending injury

EAST LANSING – Jack Conklin will be back at some point this season, Mark Dantonio confirmed with an indirect answer Tuesday, a revelation no doubt accompanied by the exhales of many Michigan State football fans.

“There's been no season-ending injuries other than the two we've talked about,” Dantonio said of linebacker Ed Davis (knee) and cornerback Vayante Copeland (fractured vertebra).

That Conklin, MSU’s standout junior left tackle, does not need season-ending surgery on the left knee he hurt Saturday against Central Michigan is huge news for No. 2 MSU (4-0) as it chases a national championship. That he stood on the sideline in a knee brace for the second half likely doesn’t bode well for his chances to play in Saturday’s homecoming game against 1-3 Purdue (noon, ESPN2).

Conklin’s name is on this week’s depth chart, as was Copeland’s before MSU’s Sept. 19 win over Air Force. After that game, Dantonio announced Copeland was done for the season, but he also wasn’t asked about the season-ending possibility before it.

Conklin’s status will be a hot topic each game day until he returns, with MSU’s next big test set for Oct. 17 at No. 22 Michigan. There also was no word Tuesday on whether senior safety RJ Williamson (lower body), senior defensive tackle Joel Heath (undisclosed), junior tight end Josiah Price (ankle) or junior right tackle Kodi Kieler (knee) will return Saturday.

MSU is heavily favored to beat Purdue, and the same will be true Oct. 10 at Rutgers. Plenty of reserves could see the field in those games as MSU tries to get healthier for tougher games.

If Conklin and Kieler are out Saturday, Dennis Finley should get the nod at left tackle after he played there in the second half and recovered from a rough start to play better. MSU went with Donavon Clark at right tackle and Benny McGowan at right guard against CMU, but Dantonio said Miguel Machado still could play at right tackle and allow Clark to move inside to his natural right guard spot if Machado can show improvement.

Dantonio did reveal that junior receiver Monty Madaris should be back soon after missing the first four games with an undisclosed injury.