Michigan QB Denard Robinson seems to be OK after twisting left knee against Bowling Green

Michigan’s Robinson seems OK after injuring knee

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson said he could have gone back in to play Bowling Green after leaving the game with an injured left knee.

“I wasn’t asked,” Robinson said.

The 21st-ranked Wolverines didn’t need him to beat Bowling 65-21 Saturday, but he’s expected to play in their next game at Indiana.

“He should be OK,” coach Rich Rodriguez said.

Robinson was hit near the sideline at the end of a 47-yard run in the first quarter and didn’t return.

He was smiling and wearing a headset on the sidelines during the second quarter. He slowly walked off the field at halftime on his own, looking as if he was trying to keep some weight off his left leg. His left knee was wrapped in the second half as he watched the game on the sideline with a baseball cap.

Robinson ran for 129 yards and two touchdowns on five carries and was 4 for 4 for 60 yards on two drives plus one play against the Falcons.

Freshman Devin Gardner and Tate Forcier, who started ahead of Robinson last year when they were freshmen, helped Michigan score 51 points after Robinson got hurt.

“As long as Denard is healthy, I’ll be happy,” said Forcier, who left the game in the fourth quarter with an injured left knee.

No one, though, wearing maize and blue can replace Robinson’s track-caliber speed, solid arm and sound decision-making.

In the first three games against Connecticut, Notre Dame and Massachusetts, Robinson threw for 671 yards and four TDs and ran for 559 yards and four TDs and had the No. 1, 2 and 10th-best games on offense in school history.

The player known as “Shoelace” because he doesn’t tie his shoes started this week leading the nation in rushing and total offense.