The Michigan State football team sustained another season-ending injury Saturday against Rutgers, as redshirt freshman offensive lineman Tyler Higby broke his ankle in the second half and won't be available the last two weeks.

Higby will have surgery on the ankle Thursday, according to head coach Mark Dantonio, who said he hopes to have him back in the spring. Lined up next to fellow redshirt freshman and left tackle Cole Chewins, Higby was playing well before suffering the injury.

"It's another young guy that will be out of the lineup," Dantonio said. "He's had a very solid year for us, and I think he shows great promise. He'll heal, but it's another injury."

Sophomore corner Vayante Copeland and redshirt freshman Brian Lewerke are among the younger players already done for the season.

Including Saturday, Higby had started six games in row for the Spartans. He missed much of his redshirt year with a "serious shin problem," as Dantonio described it, so he was behind entering the spring.

"But I thought he rapidly caught up," Dantonio said. "He's got great athletic ability, he's a big guy, very athletic, shows power, very fluid and should be a great player for us here in the future."_

Dantonio said it's "too early to tell" on if any other players will be out for the final two games against Ohio State and Penn State due to injury. Gerald Holmes left Saturday's game with a leg injury, while Malik McDowell didn't play at all. Other players who were out Saturday included Tyson Smith, Ed Davis, Prescott Line, Jalen Watts-Jackson and Thiyo Lukusa, who was sick during the week.

In other news, junior linebacker Jon Reschke is one player who is done for the year, Dantonio confirmed Sunday night. Reschke suffered an ankle injury in the loss to Wisconsin earlier this season.

"He's still not ready to play," Dantonio said. "And then also we'll probably be able to get a sixth year for him so he would really be a junior again next year."

Dantonio said Reschke missed his entire first season on campus due to a "severe" ankle injury, it shouldn't be a problem getting him another year if he chooses to go that route.

"Taht would be the thought process going forward, but he has to want to do that, as well," Dantonio said. "We'll decide that at the end of next year."

(Want to stay up to date on all the latest with the Spartans? Make sure you're in the loop by signing up for our FREE Michigan State newsletter)