Harbaugh on Rudock playing next week: 'I think so'

MINNEAPOLIS -- Michigan quarterback Jake Rudock left Saturday's game against Minnesota with an injury and did not return.

But U-M coach Jim Harbaugh said he doesn't think the two hard hits resulted in anything serious and Rudock could play next week against Rutgers.

"I don't think anything's broken, it's more of a bruise," Harbaugh said after Saturday's 29-26 survival win over the Gophers.

And a concussion?

"From what they've told me, no," Harbaugh said. "The torso, ribs (are) sore. He tried to come back and made the determination that he couldn't really do it at the level we needed. I thought he was having a great game, one of his best games."

With 4:40 in the third quarter and trailing, 23-21, Rudock scrambled for 6 yards and was hit from both sides by Minnesota defenders, knocking off his helmet when the second player’s helmet hit Rudock's directly. It appeared his neck bent awkwardly and the ball, which he held on to, was pressed against his chest.

Rudock remained on the ground briefly with trainers and Harbaugh examining him, before eventually sitting up and walking off under his own power. He walked to the locker room accompanied by a trainer and returned to the sideline early in the fourth quarter, throwing without a helmet.

It was the first time this season Rudock left the game due to major injury. He was replaced by redshirt freshman quarterback Wilton Speight, though Shane Morris – expected to be redshirting – was helping him warm up.

Speight struggled at the start, throwing a few incompletions on his first two series. But he hit his stride on U-M's drive with 8 1/2 minutes to go and completed three passes, including a touchdown and the critical two-point conversion.

All season, Harbaugh has insisted Rudock is the best option they have at quarterback, so his potential return is vital to the Wolverines' future, which means playing as soon as next week vs. Rutgers (3-5, 1-4 Big Ten).

"I think so," Harbaugh said. "I don't know for sure, we'll see. It seems like soft tissue type of bruising, so we'll see."

The situation with Morris remains intriguing as Harbaugh confirmed that Speight ascended to the No. 2 quarterback spot a few weeks ago.

Morris tossed a little bit and then when Rudock returned from the locker room, helping the starter test himself on the sideline.

But there was never any apparent indication that Morris could enter and his desire to redshirt this season – made once he lost the starting job to Rudock – was still intact.

“That’s what we’ve talked about doing, yeah,” Harbaugh said.

TWO-POINTER: Harbaugh’s decision to go for two points with 4:57 to play was a key move. Even having a backup quarterback, he knew it was worth the gamble.

Speight hit Amara Darboh to put the Wolverines up 29-26.

“It was very important,” U-M safety Jarrod Wilson said. “Because it puts us up by three. Worst case scenario, if we give up field position and it comes down to a field goal, it’s to tie, rather than go up by one or however many it would be. It was really good by Wilton, I liked the way he stepped in.”

Peppers: Michigan’s biggest weapon was unleashed Saturday, and Minnesota was trying anything to stop it.

Jabrill Peppers, U-M’s standout kick returner, set up both of U-M’s first two touchdowns with impressive returns in the first half.

Then he scored the Wolverines' third score, the first of the second half.

Already pushing Michigan’s return numbers to the highest level since the Steve Breaston era a decade ago, Peppers kept showing off on Saturday.

After Minnesota kicked a field goal late in the first quarter, they kicked to Peppers and he dropped the ball at the goal line.

It didn’t matter as he picked it up and raced up the right side for 43 yards, giving the Wolverines great field position and setting up Michigan’s first touchdown for a 7-3 lead.

After the U-M defense held for a three-and-out, the Gophers punted to Peppers and, as he caught it running forward, found a massive hole on the right side. He may have scored if not for a tackle from punter Peter Morrell at the Minnesota 29 after a 41-yard return.

After the Gophers scored a touchdown and kicked off, the ball sailed through the end zone and Peppers raised his arms, acknowledging what many were thinking: That was the best way to make sure he doesn’t bring you down.

With the Wolverines in the red zone early in the second half, Rudock motioned out and Peppers took a direct snap which he ran for a six-yard touchdown, bowling over a linebacker at the goal line.

It was his first career touchdown.

"Very explosive performance by Jabrill in all three phases," Harbaugh said. "Very close to kicking out of a shoestring tackle on offense to score a long touchdown, the one he picked up the first down at midfield. He scored a touchdown for us... Thought he made a good decision, had a halfback pass dialed up and he kept it. In the punt return game he was one away from that one going the distance. He's explosive, a great player."

Injury problems: Harbaugh said long snapper Scott Sypniewski played the game with a broken thumb and was "95% sure" it occurred on the infamous final play against Michigan State, when he was bowled over before Blake O'Neill's botched punt.... Michigan receiver Drake Harris didn’t make the trip and said on his Instagram page he was sorry. Michigan radio said before the game Harris had an ankle injury. Brad Anlauf took his spot on the travel roster.... Defensive lineman Willie Henry left the game with an injury but returned to play. Tight end Jake Butt and tailback De'Veon Smith both left the game late with apparent injuries.

Contact Mark Snyder: msnyder@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter@mark__snyder.

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