Michigan State QB Connor Cook likely to be game-time decision

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan Statequarterback Connor Cook will likely be a game-day decision for the ninth-ranked Spartans as they attempt to clinch a divisional championship in the Big Ten East against Penn State this weekend.

Cook did not play in this past Saturday's win over No. 3 Ohio State in Columbus. He suffered a shoulder injury during the previous week's game against Maryland. Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said he is not sure where his quarterback's health currently stands. The team has its first full practice of the week Tuesday evening.

"We'll see how it all shakes out," Dantonio said. "It's sort of hard to say. I assume things are moving forward, but it's hard to assess those things until you get to game day, it really is. It hinges on very small things."

Dantonio said the Michigan State offense could use Cook as an emergency option or in small amounts against Penn State on Saturday. Spartan quarterbacks Tyler O'Connor and Damion Terry split the reps at quarterback against Ohio State.

Neither O'Connor nor Terry will get a special package of plays to use this weekend. Dantonio said he expects his quarterbacks to operate the same offense that Cook would run. He said the rainy and cold weather in Columbus was as much of a factor as his quarterbacks' inexperience in the decision to attempt only 16 passes against the Buckeyes.

Cook insisted during the week leading into the Ohio State game that he would play, but Dantonio made the decision to start O'Connor on Friday night. Cook has thrown for a Big Ten-best 21 touchdowns and 2,482 yards in 10 game this season.

In other injury news, Dantonio said star linebacker Ed Davis wants to return to the program for a sixth season in 2016 if the NCAA approves his injury waiver. Davis was an All-America candidate for the Spartans' defense before a season-ending knee injury in August.