EAST LANSING — Michigan State senior linebacker Jairus Jones will miss the remainder of the season on account of the knee injury he suffered in the Spartans' 17-13 loss at Notre Dame on Sept. 21.

Spartans coach Mark Dantonio informed the media of Jones' condition prior to Thursday's team practice.

Jones, a converted safety, had 12 tackles and two interceptions in the 3 1/2 games he played before he was injured toward the end of a play in a pileup. Jones, from Tampa, Fla., has already used up his medical redshirt and he will focus on his academics.

According to a Michigan State spokesman, Jones' career with the Spartans is over.

"It's been tough for Jairus, but he has done a great job in the leadership area,'' Dantonio said. "He's an outstanding young man who's concentrating on graduating now, midseason. It's too bad because he's an outstanding player. He's struggled with injuries throughout, he won't get this year back because he has already been redshirted in that capacity.''

Dantonio had originally hoped Jones could return during this bye week, but the re-evaluation of his knee led to the season-ending diagnosis.

Jones served a special role in the Spartans' 4-3 defense, bringing defensive back cover skills to the linebacker position and helping Michigan State against multi-receiver teams by subbing in for starting weakside (star) linebacker Taiwan Jones.

Dantonio said senior defensive tackle Tyler Hoover, who injured his calf in the second half of Michigan State's 14-0 win over Purdue on Oct. 19, is expected to return for the Spartans' Nov. 16 game at Nebraska.

Hoover started the first seven games of this season at defensive tackle and has been identified as a leader in the front four by defensive line coach Ron Burton.

Receiver Aaron Burbridge, who suffered a hamstring injury against Purdue and missed the Oct. 26 Illinois game before seeing very limited action in the 29-6 win over Michigan, is also expected to be available at Nebraska.

"That's a tough one to gauge. I think he could have played some on Saturday, but he wasn't 100 percent so that was the main focus,'' Dantonio said, asked about Burbridge's status. "We need to get him 100 percent, he needs to start making plays for us. He's a good football player but he's been a little quiet for us lately.''

Burbridge, a sophomore who began the season on the Biletnikoff Award Watch List, has 17 catches for 146 yards and no touchdowns this season.

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