Michigan State’s struggling offense lost its top playmaker. Coach Pat Fitzgerald said Monday that running back Cam Edwards will miss the rest of the 2026 season with a knee injury.
Edwards hurt his right knee a little over five minutes into the first quarter of Saturday’s 31-13 loss to Nebraska, after being upended following a screen pass. He had to be carted to the locker room.
A big early-season producer
Edwards finished with 304 yards and three touchdowns on 64 carries in four games, plus four catches for 35 yards. He was the only Spartan with more than 15 rushing attempts through the first three games, which shows how much the offense leaned on him.
Edwards arrived in East Lansing with high expectations. The UConn transfer came off a season in which he ran for 1,240 yards and 15 touchdowns in 13 games, including six 100-yard games. Some fans had compared him to Kenneth Walker III.
What it means for the season
The injury is another setback for a team that has slid since a promising start. After opening 2-0, Michigan State has lost two straight while dealing with a growing list of injuries. The Spartans are 2-2 and face Wisconsin this Saturday.
The backfield will have to be rebuilt by committee. Jaziun Patterson is expected to step into the lead role, as he did after Edwards went down against Nebraska. Marvis Parrish, a true sophomore who transferred from Western Kentucky, likely becomes the No. 2 back. He and Patterson had been splitting the No. 2 job on the depth chart before the injury. The offense will also need more from the passing game and quarterback Alessio Milivojevic.
A possible end to his Spartan career
The injury may also close out Edwards’ college career. He spent four seasons at UConn and is listed as a redshirt senior, so 2026 was expected to be his last year of eligibility. A return to Michigan State is considered unlikely.
For now, the Spartans have to move the ball without the player they relied on most. Their first test comes Saturday against Wisconsin.
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