The Michigan Wolverines have encountered nothing in the way of trouble on the field this season, dominating both Hawaii and UCF in impressive fashion. However, Jim Harbaugh's team has been missing arguably its best player, cornerback Jourdan Lewis, in both contests with little in the way of explanation.
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Now, though, Nick Baumgardner of MLive.com brings word from Harbaugh on the status of Lewis, and it isn't the type of throwaway injury that Michigan fans were unquestionably hoping for:
"Something different came up, a muscle strain in a different location. We'll see (how long he's out). But I'm not going to take any chances with it. We did an MRI, there was a signal there. It was a near type of pull. He's just too good of a player, he's worked too hard and we're not going to put him out there in a position where it's just silly to go ahead and (aggravate) a muscle pull.
"That's where it's at. I called it a near pull, but it shows up on the MRI and I'm glad we can do MRI's around here. Glad we can do that for our players and give them the best treatment available. When it comes to their health and their welfare, it costs what it costs."
There was a buzz that Lewis had a back ailment when he missed the opener against the Rainbow Warriors, but expectations were that the All-American would return for the second game of the campaign. Hearing that there is a new injury is certainly troublesome for the Wolverines, even with the caveat that it does not sound particularly serious.
In order to reach the team's ultimate goals of winning the Big Ten and, potentially, reaching the College Football Playoff, Michigan absolutely needs Jourdan Lewis playing at the elite level that he did in 2015. Until we see that happen, though, skepticism reigns.
