Earlier this season, the Illinois football team had some injuries, but they weren’t impactful injuries.
Four Illini players have essentially been out for the season since the start of the 2025 campaign. Those four players weren’t going to get much playing time this season and would have probably redshirted anyway.
But now that we are a couple of games into the 2025 season, the injuries are starting to pile up a bit heading into the Western Michigan contest.
Here is the Illinois football injury report vs Western Michigan
- RB Aidan Laughery (Starter) – Game-time decision for Western Michigan
- LB Dylan Rosiek (Starter) – Probably for Western Michigan
- DB Jaheim Clark (Main rotational) – Out for Western Michigan
- OLB Daniel Brown (Starter) – Out for Western Michigan
- TE Grant Smith (3rd string+) – Out for season
- OG JJ Hirdes (3rd string+) – Out for season
- RB John Forester (3rd string+) – Out for season
- DB Tywan Cox (3rd string+) – Out for season
Illinois has three starters who could miss the Western Michigan game, and that is a bit concerning
There were a few names that popped up on the injury report this week that has my eyebrows raised.
Daniel Brown being out hurts the Illinois defense. He was injured last season, and his return this season has provided some nice depth for the Illini. I will be curious to see what Aaron Henry does at the outside linebacker position without Brown.
It was great to hear that Dylan Rosiek is likely to play against Western Michigan. While he is still on the injury report, Rosiek is the centerpiece of the Illinois defense. If this game gets out of hand, it would be smart to sit him as much as possible.
The last player that I am watching is Illinois running back Aidan Laughery. Missing Laughery long-term would be bad. He is a game-time decision for Saturday, and if push comes to shove, just rest him and let the other Illinois running backs run wild. Get Laughery healthy for the tough schedule coming up.