EAST LANSING - Michigan State will be without its starting punter for the rest of the season.

Fifth-year senior Jake Hartbarger, who was injured last month, will remain sidelined for the rest of the season but could return for a sixth year of eligibility, coach Mark Dantonio announced Tuesday morning.

"Jake is, in all general purposes, I believe done for the year," Dantonio said, "because I think to throw your right leg up in the air when it's been broken is probably a little bit of an issue from a confidence standpoint."

Hartbarger was injured when he took a hit to his right leg on a punt in the fourth quarter of a 16-13 loss at Arizona State on Sept. 8. Byron Bullough was flagged for a false start and whistles blew the play dead but Hartbarger still punted the ball away and took a hit to his right leg from Arizona State defensive lineman Tyler Johnson, who made contact with his helmet. No flag was thrown for the hit on Hartbarger.

Dantonio initially said he expected Hartbarger to be out six to eight weeks before Tuesday's announcement that it was a season-ending injury. Michigan State will have to apply to the NCAA for a waiver for a sixth year of eligibility for medical reasons.

"Unless something drastically changes, that's the intent right now," Dantonio said of Hartbarger sitting the rest of the season and applying for a redshirt. "And he knows that, and I've talked to his family about that."

Hartbarger was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection last year and began the season in his fourth year as the starter. He had a career-long 74-yard punt against Arizona State before being injured.

When Hartbarger was injured, backup quarterback Rocky Lombardi stepped in for one punt at Arizona State. The Spartans then turned to a pair of redshirt freshmen walk-ons in Bryce Baringer and Tyler Hunt. Baringer was added to the roster the week after Hartbarger was injured while Hunt has taken over the starting role. Hunt is averaging 38.9 yards per attempt with eight downed inside the 20-yard line and one of at least 50 yards.

Michigan State has been hampered by injuries affecting all three phases of the game. The Spartans used five different offensive line combinations in the first five games and on Sunday Dantonio said fifth-year senior guard David Beedle would probably miss about a month after being injured in last week's loss to Northwestern. Running back LJ Scott missed each of the last three games, receiver Cody White is out indefinitely after suffering a broken hand and cornerback Josiah Scott still hasn't played after a meniscus injury in fall camp.

Dantonio said the team has likely sustained more injuries through this point of the season than at any time in his 12 years leading the program. However, he views the season in a whole when it's over.

"We're getting guys back," he said, "and we'll get them back."