MSU safety Meyers suspended; LB Martinez out with injury?

EAST LANSING – Mark Dantonio detected his players getting "a little leg tired" when he watched film of MSU's season-opening win and said today perhaps more players should see the field, but he's now down two defensive subs for an undetermined period of time.

Dantonio announced on a teleconference today that he has suspended reserve safety Mark Meyers indefinitely for an incident that took place Saturday night. Meyers was arrested for operating while intoxicated and was released Sunday from Ingham County Jail in Mason, according to a report on isportsweb. A call seeking confirmation from the jail was not returned.

Meyers, 21, of Toledo, Ohio, saw action in Friday's 37-24 season-opening win at Western Michigan, playing with the first-team defense when starting safety Montae Nicholson left the game briefly with an arm injury. It appears he won't be available for Saturday's game at Spartan Stadium between No. 7 Oregon (1-0) and the No. 5 Spartans.

And that appears to be the case for linebacker Drake Martinez as well, after Martinez did not travel with the team for Friday's game. Dantonio said Martinez's absence was not a disciplinary measure. When asked if it's a long-term injury, Dantonio said he would not discuss injuries.

Martinez, a speedy JUCO transfer, won an NCAA appeal to play this season and was expected to help on special teams for sure and perhaps on defense as well.

Speaking of special teams, Dantonio said several issues hurt the Spartans on WMU kickoff returns of 70 yards and 100 yards for a touchdown. He said a two-man wedge was not properly attacked on one, and that kicker Kevin Cronin got out of position.

He also said multiple players simply didn't make plays in the open field, and that he expects the issues to be resolved.

"We can't have it, though," Dantonio said. "Not acceptable."

Contact Joe Rexrode: jrexrode@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @joerexrode. Check out his MSU blog at freep.com/heyjoe. Download our new Spartans Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!