Sherrone Moore gives Colston Loveland injury update before Michigan clash vs. USC

Michigan football is keeping the door open for standout tight end Colston Loveland to play Saturday vs. No. 12 USC at Michigan Stadium .

Loveland exited last Saturday's game with an apparent arm injury in Michigan's 28-18 victory over Arkansas State .

Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore addressed media Monday ahead of his team's Big Ten conference opener against league newcomer USC (3;30 p.m., CBS), and would not commit either way to Loveland's presence on the field.

"We'll see what the doctors say," Moore, who also named Alex Orji the starting quarterback Monday, said in Ann Arbor. "So just let them handle that right?"

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In Loveland's absence, backup Marlin Klein had a team-leading 43 yards on three catches, and true freshman Hogan Hansen caught a 9-yard touchdown from Orji in the fourth quarter. Klein is an athletic 6-foot-6, 250-pound junior from Cologne, Germany.

"Thought those guys played well," Moore said Monday. "Marlin had his best game. ... Hogan's one of those guys who's just been working his tail off and fearless throughout camp. And you put him in there with the 'twos,' and he's good. You put him in there with the 'ones,' he's good. He makes plays and just doesn't say anything, just works his tail off. So bright future for Hogan."

Loveland, a 6-5 and 245-pound junior who drew lofty comparisons from coaches to Travis Kelce in the preseason , has been by far Michigan's best receiver through three weeks. He leads the team in receptions (19) and yards (187) with a touchdown, and has been the focal point for opponent's game plan.

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Loveland, projected to be a first-round pick in April's 2025 NFL draft, led Michigan in receiving in the opener vs. Fresno State with eight grabs for 87 yards and a score, and in a Week 2 loss against Texas with eight catches for 70 yards.

He tied for the team lead with three receptions for 30 yards vs. Arkansas State, before exiting after the first play of the third quarter.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Sherrone Moore gives Colston Loveland injury update before Michigan clash vs. USC