Jack Velling injury update: Jonathan Smith shares status of Michigan State TE

After being carted off the field during this weekend’s game, Michigan State still doesn’t have an official status moving forward for Jack Velling.

Jonathan Smith spoke about Velling, who was placed on a backboard in exiting the first quarter of the 24-17 win for the Spartans over Purdue on Saturday, during his postgame press conference. He said that they had sent him to the hospital to be safe but that they had spoken with him and he actually got to watch the rest of the team’s win. However, as for how he was, Smith had nothing to update yet about Velling.

“You know, I was actually – I spoke to him on the phone in the locker room just a bit ago,” said Smith. “At the hospital, thorough precautionary-type things but he was in good spirits. He was able to watch the game.”

“I don’t have anything definitive,” Smith said to the media.

Velling did have one catch for 11 yards on a total of two targets on the opening drive. It was that second pass to him where he took the hit from DB Dillon Thieneman that caused the injury.

Velling is the third-leading pass catcher in his third collegiate season as a junior who’s in his first with the team after transferring from Oregon State. He has 31 receptions for 334 yards, both of which are behind only Nick Marsh and Montorie Foster Jr.. The catches are a career-high while being 104 yards shy of his best from last season. He also hasn’t caught a touchdown to this point of the season after totaling up 11 through his pair of seasons in Corvallis.

Michigan State has one game left in the regular season as they’ll host Rutgers on Saturday to determine their bowl eligibility. It’s now a wonder if Velling will be able to back in time for them in that game come kickoff next weekend.