Just as the season gets set to take off, where hopes are high with incoming transfer quarterback Shea Patterson winning the starting job, a new offensive line coach in Ed Warinner, who looks to improve the weakest part of the Michigan offense, and the defense returning with multiple starters, some fans are throwing in the towel before week one even kicks-off.

On Saturday there were rumors about wide receiver Tarik Black being injured, and on Sunday those rumors were confirmed. Angelique Chengelis of The Detroit News confirmed those rumors with this tweet.

So that’s what has killed the hopes of many Wolverine fans. One starting wide receiver who is going to miss time with an injury has suddenly eliminated Michigan from the Big Ten and National Championship hopes.

I’m here to tell you to keep your head held high, this season isn’t ruined because of one injury.

While Black was the unanimous number one receiver last season before breaking his foot, and with the other receivers struggling, this doesn’t mean it will happen again in 2018. Things are different.

First, many wide receivers have left Michigan because there was too much competition to start and get playing time, as Drake Harris, Eddie McDoom, Maurice Ways, and Kekoa Crawford all decided to move on to other programs where they could see playing time.

That leaves the Wolverines with 13 other wide receivers, 12 when you eliminate Black due to injury. This position is deep on the roster.

Second, the offense just doesn’t run through one wide receiver, the Wolverines still have Donovan Peoples-Jones, Grant Perry, and Nico Collins. While those last two names don’t jump out at you, they should. We here at the WolverinesWire reported that Collins and Perry have been the best wide receivers in camp.

Perry was the leading wide receiver on the team last season with 25 catches for 307 yards and a touchdown. Collins only had three catches for 27 yards last year, but he was behind McDoom, Crawford and Harris who all have left the team now and being the tallest wide receiver at 6’4, he should be a big target, especially in the red zone.

The Wolverines offense still has Patterson, Karan Higdon, Chris Evans, Peoples-Jones, Perry, Collins, Sean McKeon, Zach Gentry, and a healthy offensive line. Losing one wide receiver doesn’t make this offense a total bust and dash championship hopes, it just means next man up.