Aidan Chiles injury update: Jonathan Smith addresses status of Michigan State QB

Michigan State suffered a humbling 38-13 loss to UCLA on Saturday. Worse, it might have lost quarterback Aidan Chiles due to injury.

Chiles exited the game in the second half after pulling the ball down on a passing play and scrambling. As he tried to spin out of a tackle attempt, he hit a defender who appeared to blast him in the head.

He exited the contest and did not return. Coach Jonathan Smith provided a very brief update on his status after the game.

“Yeah, he got banged pretty good there start of the third,” Smith said. “Wasn’t available the rest of the time.”

Before he exited the game hurt, Aidan Chiles was having a tough go of it. He was just 8-of17 passing for 66 yards, and he did not throw a touchdown pass. He also ran six times for nine yards, scoring once on the ground.

He was replaced in the contest by Alessio Milivojevic. The backup went 8-of-18 passing for 100 yards and a touchdown. He also ran once for nine yards in the contest.

It’s unclear if Aidan Chiles will miss any extended period of time going forward. Smith’s answer didn’t provide much clarity on that front, and he wasn’t in much of a talking mood following the blowout loss.

Aidan Chiles battling injuries lately

Saturday’s injury against UCLA, which knocked Chiles out of the game for the duration, was not the first in-game injury the quarterback has suffered this year. He was also hurt in a game against Nebraska the week prior.

Chiles exited the game against Nebraska early in the second quarter after taking an awkward looking sack in the redzone. He would return on the ensuing drive.

He headed towards the injury tent and was replaced by freshman quarterback Alessio Milivojevic. Milivojevic finished off the drive nicely with a two-yard passing touchdown to tight end Jack Velling to cut Nebraska‘s 14-0 lead in half. But the broadcast was critical of the Michigan State offensive line.

“I do not like this from the Michigan State offensive line,” FS1 commentator Devin Gardner said on the broadcast. “Of course, sometimes you get beat but you can’t just watch your quarterback get attacked and not be like ‘oh, he’s down on the ground.’”