Mark Snyder

Detroit Free Press

Michigan senior tailback Drake Johnson is expected to return Saturday against Illinois (3:30 p.m., BTN), coach Jim Harbaugh said today.

"I think he'll be ready to go this week," Harbaugh said on the Big Ten coaches teleconference. "From what I'm seeing in practice, physically, I think he'll be ready to go."

Johnson has battled injuries throughout his career, including multiple ACL tears and, just this off-season, getting run over by a forklift in U-M's track building.

Despite all those issues, Johnson said he was feeling good in training camp. But he hadn't even dressed for a game until a few weeks ago, due to a new injury.

"He had a setback in practice where he strained a muscle, and that set him back," Harbaugh said. "He's been rehabbing from that, and that process has led him to being back. He's done a nice job getting back and ready to play."

At times -- particularly late in 2014 before his second ACL tear -- Johnson showed burst and an ability to get in and out of breaks quickly. He rushed 60 times for 361 yards and four touchdowns in 2014 and had 54 carries for 271 yards and four touchdowns in 2015.

Harbaugh has seen progress in practice, and Johnson was one of the players he cited on his radio show Monday as having a good week of practice during the bye.

"He's playing well," Harbaugh said. "He's running and moving."

Even though he's healthy, finding carries for him will be a challenge. Michigan has four tailbacks (De'Veon Smith, Chris Evans, Ty Isaac and Karan Higdon) who have topped 250 rushing yards this season. Fullback Khalid Hill has taken short-yardage carries, and linebacker Jabrill Peppers has run as a wildcat quarterback.

"Drake Johnson also has been champing at the bit to get going," Harbaugh said. "He'll add in. The thing I like the most is that there's multiple guys that can run, block, catch the ball out of the backfield at a very high level."

Wolverines' Jabrill Peppers is 'a natural' at quarterback, too

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