Michigan State depth chart, injury report: A lot of unknowns for starters at Indiana

Three straight wins followed by three consecutive losses.

That’s how Michigan State started last season and is in the same spot again.

If the Spartans (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten) are going to avoid their first four-game skid under second-year coach Jonathan Smith, it will require a massive upset at No. 3 Indiana (6-0, 3-0) on Saturday (3:30 p.m., Peacock) in Bloomington.

Injury report:

Out: OL Luka Vincic (season), LB Brady Pretzlaff (season), DB Andrew Brinson (season), DB Caleb Gash (season), EDGE Anelu Lafaele (season), OL Stanton Ramil, WR Alante Brown. Questionable: QB Aidan Chiles, DT Ben Roberts, DE Jalen Thompson, S Nikai Martinez, DB Ade Willie, DB NiJhay Burt, TE Michael Masunas, TE Brennan Parachek, TE Jayden Savoury, OL Kristian Phillips, LB Marcellius Pulliam, LS Kaden Schickel, K Tarik Ahmetbasic, RB Jace Clarizio.

There’s obviously a lot to unpack here that’s not good for the Spartans. It starts with Chiles, who was knocked out of last week’s 38-13 loss against UCLA after suffering a helmet-to-helmet hit. Smith called him questionable and on Wednesday said the junior was limited but active in practice while CBS Sports reported Chiles is expected to be available. It’s a bit unclear what that means and Alessio Milivojevic will make his first career start if Chiles is sidelined.

Smith said there’s a chance Thompson, Martinez and Roberts – a late scratch last week – return against the Hoosiers. Masunas and Phillips are among the long list of those also questionable.

Projected depth chart:

Quarterback

Starter: Aidan Chiles

Backup: Alessio Milivojevic

Others of note: Leo Hannan, Ryland Jessee

If Chiles is actually able to go on Saturday, he will be trying to break out of a two-game funk against one of the best defenses in the nation. Milivojevic played solid in relief each of the last two weeks.

Running back

Starter: Makhi Frazier

Backup: Brandon Tullis

Others of note: Elijah Tau-Tolliver

The backfield depth chart hasn’t changed all season but the run game has been a disappointment and failed to even reach 90 yards on the ground in either of the last two games.

Fullback

Starter: Jay Coyne

Backup: Jaxon McCaig

Coyne played three snaps against the Bruins.

Wide receiver

Starters: Nick Marsh, Omari Kelly, Chrishon McCray

Backups: Rodney Bullard, Evan Boyd

Others of note: Braylon Collier, Charles Taplin

Marsh showed up last week and had seven catches for 77 yards and a touchdown on a whopping 15 targets. The Spartans want to get him the ball as much as possible but also need to get the other top targets involved.

Tight end

Starter: Jack Velling

Backups: Kai Rios, Michael Masunas, Brennan Parachek

Others of note: Jayden Savoury

The Spartans could be very thin at tight end with three of the top five at the position (Masunas, Parachek and Savoury) all questionable and untested depth behind them.

Offensive line

Starters: LT Conner Moore, LG Gavin Broscious, C Matt Gulbin, RG Caleb Carter, RT Ashton Lepo

Backups: OT Rustin Young, OG Kristian Phillips

Others of note: C Cooper Terpstra, OT/C Rakeem Johnson

Phillips was using crutches and wearing a walking boot on the sideline late last week. That wasn’t an encouraging sign so it’s just a guess that he’s out on Saturday and the Spartans shuffle at guard with two experienced options in Broscious and Carter. It also wouldn’t be a surprise to see a change at tackle depending on which side they want to use Moore.

Defensive tackle

Starters: Alex VanSumeren, Ru’Quan Buckley

Backups: Ben Roberts, Grady Kelly, Jalen Satchell

Others of note: Mikeshun Beeler, Derrick Simmons

With Roberts out, Buckley played a season-high 45 snaps last week, according to Pro Football Focus. VanSumeren tied a career high with six tackles.

Defensive end

Starters: Isaac Smith, Kekai Burnett

Backups: Jalen Thompson, Quindarius Dunnigan, David Santiago

Others of note: Cam Williams, Tyler Gillison

Thompson’s absence last week led to Burnett making his first career start. Dunnigan and Williams combined for a sack.

Linebacker

Starters: Jordan Hall, Wayne Matthews, Darius Snow

Backups: Aisea Moa, Semaj Bridgeman

Others of note: Marcellius Pulliam, Sam Edwards

Hall continues leading the way while Matthews and Snow have a ton of experience.

Cornerback

Starters: Malcolm Bell, Joshua Eaton

Backups: Aydan West, Chance Rucker, Jeremiah Hughes

Others of note: Anthony Pinnace, NiJhay Burt

Michigan State shook up its starting corners by going with Rucker and true freshman West to open last week but that didn’t last. Bell, Eaton, West and Rucker make up the top four at the spot.

Safety/nickelback

Starters: Malik Spencer, Nikai Martinez, Ade Willie

Backups: Armorion Smith, Dontavius Nash, Devynn Cromwell

Others of note: Justin Denson, Tracy Revels, Khalil Majeed, Aveon Grose

Another group with more uncertainty. Spencer should be good while Armorion Smith is coming off a rough outing as a safety/nickel option.

Special teams

PK: Martin Connington

KO: Martin Connington

P: Ryan Eckley

LS: Jack Wills

KR: Elijah Tau-Tolliver, Chrishon McCray

PR: Omari Kelly

A week after special teams sunk Michigan State in a loss at Nebraska, the third phase of the game was mostly a non-factor. The Spartans will be challenged by an Indiana team with three blocked kicks, two blocked punts and two punt return touchdowns.