Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy says lingering ankle injury ‘almost healed’

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — J.J. McCarthy said Monday that he’s feeling better after playing with a lingering ankle injury in recent weeks.

The Michigan quarterback told reporters on a conference call ahead of Saturday’s Big Ten championship game against Iowa (8 p.m., FOX) that his ankle ailment is “almost perfectly healed,” and signaled no plans to rest it this weekend. McCarthy has not disclosed the nature of the injury, its seriousness or how he got it — and has instead opted to play through it.

“It was a rough couple of weeks, but the athletic training staff did a tremendous job and I attacked treatment every single day,” McCarthy said. “It’s doing good; I appreciate you asking.”

McCarthy could be seen hobbling during the Wolverines’ Nov. 11 win at Penn State, a game in which he attempted just eight passes and ran the football eight times for 34 yards. He had no designed runs the next week against Maryland; rushing just twice for negative-7 yards.

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But McCarthy looked more like his old self on Saturday against Ohio State, finishing 16 of 20 passing for 148 yards and a touchdown while rushing four times for 17 yards, including a 15-yard scramble on a second-and-6 play in the third quarter.

“I think he’s better,” Michigan offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore said on Monday. “I think he showed that when he took off and ran down the sideline, and ran past those guys. He’s feeling good.”

McCarthy, who was once considered a betting frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy, has been the engine that’s helped the Michigan offense go this season. In 12 games he’s thrown for 2,483 yards and 19 touchdowns (with just four interceptions) and rushed for 181 yards and three touchdowns. His 74.3-percent completion rate is second nationally, while his QB rating (176.76) currently ranks fifth.

The Wolverines are currently 12-0 and will play for their third straight Big Ten title. A victory over the Hawkeyes would also ensure them a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Last year, McCarthy finished 18 of 24 for 155 yards and a touchdown in a 27-14 win over Iowa. He appeared in the Big Ten title game against the Hawkeyes two years ago in a backup role, rushing four times for 23 yards while throwing an interception.