Injured Michigan defensive back Rod Moore could be targeting a return to the field during the second half of the season, according to his position coach.
Wolverines defensive backs coach LaMar Morgan said last week on the “In the Trenches” podcast that the all-Big Ten safety “might not be able to play the first half of the season,” signaling a potential return from a serious knee injury later in the fall.
Michigan’s 2024 schedule includes its first six games on consecutive weekends through Oct. 5, then a bye week before kicking off the second half on Oct. 19.
Moore had surgery in late-April to repair an undisclosed injury to his left knee suffered during spring practice. 247Sports reported in March it was a torn ACL, though no one inside the Michigan program has publicly confirmed that. A late-October return to the field would mark six months following surgery, potentially setting him up for insertion into the lineup come November when Michigan plays Oregon (Nov. 2), Indiana (Nov. 9), Northwestern (Nov. 23) and Ohio State (Nov. 30).
“I’m big on my faith and I told him God doesn’t make any mistakes,” Morgan told podcast host and radio analyst Jon Jansen. “There’s a reason why you got what happened right now. There’s a reason. You’ve got to get through the smoke and keep working, and when you come out the back you’ll understand why this happened.”
Moore had surgery done by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the lead physician for the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Dodgers who repaired former Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara’s knee injury last year.
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In late-May, Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said Moore’s recovery was “ahead of schedule” and sounded optimistic that he might get the play-making safety back before the end of the season.
Last year, Moore totaled 38 tackles (one for a loss), two interceptions and three pass breakups as part of the Wolverines’ No. 2-ranked passing defense that included All-American cornerback Will Johnson and second-round NFL draft pick Mike Sainristil at nickel. Johnson is back and with Moore, the Wolverines were expected to pick up where they left off on the back end under Morgan and new defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale.
In the meantime, Michigan will look to several players with varying levels of experience to help fill the void, a group that includes two transfers with starting experience, Wesley Walker (Tennessee) and Jaden Mangham (Michigan State), a sixth-year returner in Quinten Johnson, junior Kody Jones and sophomores Brandyn Hillman and Zeke Berry.
Johnson, Jones and Hillman were all limited in spring due to injury, Morgan revealed, complicating his evaluation as the Wolverines inch closer to preseason camp.
It’s going to be a group effort to replace Rod Moore,” Morgan said on the podcast. “I would be naive to say just one player can replace him.”
Moore has been a model member of the roster since going down to injury, showing up to practices and meetings regularly, and plans to act as a player-coach as the season begins to ramp up in August. He turned 21 on July 3.
“We’ve got to keep the guy motivated, keep him around, have him in our offices all the time, ask him questions on game plans,” Morgan said. “I haven’t met anybody that got hurt that is willing to come up here and meet with players, and he might not be able to play the first half of the season.
“It takes a special person to do that. He hurt his leg and the next day he’s in the front row of our meeting. I haven’t seen that in my career.”
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