Aidan Chiles injury update: Jonathan Smith shares latest on Michigan State QB

Michigan State junior quarterback Aidan Chiles has missed back-to-back games against Minnesota and Penn State. Chiles was benched for backup quarterback Alessio Milivojevic in the first game, but missed the second game with a foot injury.

During a media opportunity on Monday, head coach Jonathan Smith revealed that there is a chance Chiles could return for the Spartans this Saturday against No. 21 Iowa.

“On Aidan’s side, we’re gonna kind of see if he can work himself to being available by the end of the week,” Smith said. “I think there’s a potential chance he doesn’t have something that deems him out for the year. We’ll see at the end of the week on him.”

In eight games this season, Chiles has completed 63% of passes for 1,392 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. Prior to the Chiles’ injury which caused him to miss the Penn State game, Smith revealed that there would be a QB battle over the duration of the final few games.

“Similarly, we’re gonna let that continue to go through the week,” Smith said. “Again, both of those guys’ skillsets present some positive things. So, we’re going to let that play out again this week.”

Michigan State looking to avoid first winless Big Ten slate since 1958

Smith would also be asked about a possible two-quarterback system moving into the final weeks of the season. That’s not something he would entirely rule out for his Michigan State offense, which ranks 14th in the Big Ten in yards per game (335.8). However, he did note that letting one quarterback get into a rhythm is sometimes the best option.

“I think that’s not outside the consideration,” Smith said. “Because, you know, because Aidan’s skillset in a package and Alessio’s in a package, that’s not outside our thinking. We haven’t decided on that. I do like the idea of a guy getting the chance to go out there and find some rhythm, and sometimes that takes multiple series in a row, but it’s all on the table right now.”

It’s been an extremely frustrating season for Michigan State, which opened the year with a 3-0 record but has now lost seven consecutive games. Through two seasons of the Jonathan Smith era, the Spartans are just 8-14. However, five of those wins have since been vacated, making them (officially) 3-14 in that span.

They’ll finish out the season against No. 21 Iowa and Maryland, looking to avoid going winless in Big Ten play for the first time since 1958.

On3’s Dan Morrison contributed to this report.