Michigan Wolverines running back Zach Charbonnet’s first quarter usage Saturday did nothing to dispel chatter about a possible knee injury.
During the week, rumors flew that Charbonnet had aggravated a previous knee injury and would miss time. These rumors didn’t come from any official source, but persisted throughout the week. Eventually, former offensive lineman Jon Jansen, who maintains close ties to the Wolverines program, refuted the stories.
Jon Jansen expects Zach Charbonnet to suit up on Saturday and to his knowledge the rumor is not true. He said this on @SIRIUSXM pic.twitter.com/Wr2omysolH
— ᴛʀᴇᴠᴏʀ ᴡᴏᴏᴅꜱ (@WoodsFootball) September 19, 2019
Chatter about Charbonnet’s status intensified during the first quarter of Saturday’s game against the Wisconsin Badgers, however. Though listed as a starter, Charbonnet didn’t see the field until a 3rd down play with 3:06 left in the quarter, a play on which he did not touch the ball. One tell that something was amiss was when Charbonnet wasn’t on the field when the Wolverines had the ball inside their own 10, a clear running situation.
There’s still no clarity here, but Charbonnet’s usage suggests something is off. It’s bad news for a team that has already dealt with other key minor injuries this year.
