Michigan coach Brady Hoke on Monday defended his handling of quarterback Shane Morris, who appeared to be injured during this past Saturday's loss to Minnesota.
Morris, who made his second career start Saturday, left the field on a cart after the game. After a big hit early in the fourth quarter, he stayed in the game for one play before being replaced by Devin Gardner. Morris later returned for one play after Gardner's helmet came off.
In a Q&A on Michigan's official athletic website posted Monday morning, Hoke said that "we would never put a quarterback who was hurt (in there). That would never happen." He also said Morris "was medically cleared to go in on that play."
ABC's "Good Morning, America" had a segment on the situation Monday. That a mainstream news outlet is covering the story takes it to a different level for Michigan officials.
Sunday night, the school released a statement from Hoke about Morris.
"The safety of our student-athletes is always our top priority," Hoke said in the statement. "We generally never discuss the specifics of a student-athlete's medical care, but Shane Morris was removed from (Saturday's) game against Minnesota after further aggravating an injury to his leg that he sustained earlier in the contest.
"He was evaluated by our experienced athletic trainers and team physicians, and we're confident proper medical decisions were made. ... Our coaches have no influence or authority to make determinations if or when an injured player returns to competition."
In other injury news:
» Arizona State coach Todd Graham said Sunday that injured QB Taylor Kelly is "pretty questionable" for Saturday's game at USC. Kelly injured his right foot in a Sept. 13 win over Colorado and missed last Thursday's loss to UCLA. He arrived at Sunday's practice on crutches and with a protective boot, but he did some light throwing. Kelly is scheduled to meet with doctors Wednesday.
» Maryland QB C.J. Brown suffered a sprained wrist in this past Saturday's win over Indiana and will be a game-time decision this week against Ohio State, coach Randy Edsall said. While Brown is a dual-threat quarterback, backup Caleb Rowe is more of a dropback passer.
» Virginia Tech TB Shai McKenzie, who was sharing time at the position with fellow freshman Marshawn Williams, will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL; he was injured during this past Saturday's win over Western Michigan. McKenzie suffered the same injury as a high school senior. McKenzie helped the Hokies rush for 308 yards against Western Michigan, their most in a game since they rushed for 317 against North Carolina State in 2010.
» Florida coach Will Muschamp said Monday that starting DT Leon Orr, who had an arthroscopic procedure on his knee last Monday, will miss Saturday's game at Tennessee and that starting LB Michael Taylor has a bone bruise on one of his knees and is questionable. Junior DE Jonathan Bullard will slide inside to replace Orr, with sophomore Bryan Cox Jr. -- the son of the former NFL linebacker -- likely to replace Bullard.
» Georgia backup TB Sony Michel won't play "any time real soon" because a left shoulder injury, coach Mark Richt said. Michel seems likely to miss at least the next two games. Georgia still has OK depth behind starting TB Todd Gurley, with true freshman Nick Chubb now in line to get more carries.
» Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said he expects starting WR Amir Carlisle to return to practice this week; Carlisle missed this past Saturday's win over Syracuse with a sprained MCL suffered in the Sept. 13 win over Purdue. The Irish play host to Stanford on Saturday.
» Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said he expects DTs Damon Knox and James Kittredge to practice this week, but he did not say they would play for certain Saturday against Nebraska. Knox was a projected starter who has not played this season; Kittredge was a backup injured in the opener. Given Nebraska's run-heavy offensive scheme, the more defensive tackles the Spartans have healthy, the better.
» Miami could be without its top two right tackles when it plays Saturday at Georgia Tech. Starter Taylor Gadbois and backup K.C. McDermott suffered knee injuries in this past Saturday's win over Duke. McDermott definitely will miss the game against Tech, coach Al Golden said, while Gadbois' status is up in the air.
» Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury said QB Davis Webb is "basically day-to-day" because of a shoulder injury suffered in last Thursday's loss to Oklahoma State. The injury is to Webb's left (non-throwing) shoulder. If he can't play, true freshman Patrick Mahomes II -- whose dad pitched for 11 seasons in the majors -- likely would get the call Saturday at Kansas State. Texas A&M QB Kenny Hill's dad also is a former major-league pitcher.
» San Diego State QB Quinn Kaehler will miss Friday's Mountain West Conference game at Fresno State with a sprained right shoulder. Strong-armed true freshman Nick Bawden, who has yet to throw a pass this season, is expected to get the start for the Aztecs.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.