Michigan's Brown banged up heading into Iowa game

10/8/2009

ANN ARBOR — Though it was a cloudy, fall day, Carlos Brown moved around the practice field at University of Michigan wearing sunglasses.

One might jokingly say Brown's eye wear was there to protect his eyes from the bright red jersey he was also wearing.

UM's leading rusher did not participate in yesterday's practice, wearing a red “noncontact” jersey reserved for injured players. Coach Rich Rodriguez did not address Brown's injury when speaking with the media prior to the afternoon practice. Brown had “sore knees” after the Indiana game two weeks ago but played in that game along with last week's loss at Michigan State.

In related news, which would seem to soften the blow if Brown is unavailable for Saturday's game at No. 12 Iowa, running back Brandon Minor (ankle) is the healthiest he's been since fall camp, Rodriguez said. Minor ran for 106 yards against Notre Dame but since then has compiled just 73 yards on 19 attempts.

“The past few weeks he's been limited during the week,” Rodriguez said. “Tuesday practice is our most physical practice and yesterday he went through the whole practice. Talking to him, it's the best he's felt in several weeks.”

Possessing a stable of healthy backs seems important against an Iowa defense that has not allowed a rushing touchdown in its last 33 quarters dating back to last November.

“Phenomenal stat,” Rodriguez said. “You look at the quality of teams they've played, and they've done that against everybody.”

In other injury-related news, Rodriguez said center David Molk, who has missed the last two games following foot surgery, has been working with trainers. The recovering process was initially diagnosed as four to six weeks.

“He's still a ways off,” Rodriguez said. “I don't know if he'll be able to practice next week or not.”

Quarterback Tate Forcier (throwing shoulder) participated in drills after working limitedly earlier in the week.

Rodriguez said the search for a permanent starting cornerback opposite Donovan Warren is “still ongoing.” Redshirt freshman J.T. Floyd started Saturday after replacing Boubacar Cissoko in the Indiana game. But there's a chance neither will start against Iowa as safety Troy Woolfolk practiced at corner yesterday with the first-team defense, a position he played last year before switching to safety in the offseason. Rodriguez did not comment directly about a Woolfolk move to corner.

“Eventually you'd like to get things settled, but I don't know if that will be settled for several weeks,” Rodriguez said.

TIGER WATCH: Rodriguez said he was driving home from the office Tuesday as the Detroit Tigers fell to the Minnesota Twins.

“I didn't want to get a speeding ticket,” he said. “I'm a big Tigers fan. I met Jim Leyland last year — great guy — and, of course, we have a Tigers coach's son on the team in Jared Van Slyke.”

Van Slyke, a sophomore safety, is the son of Detroit first base coach Andy Van Slyke.

Contact Ryan Autullo at:rautullo@theblade.comor 419-724-6160.