Connor Cook expects his throwing shoulder to be fully healthy for the Michigan State's College Football Playoff semifinal matchup with Alabama.
Cook injured his right shoulder in the Spartans' game against Maryland on Nov. 14 and did not play the following week against Ohio State. He played the following week against Penn State and in the Big Ten Championship game against Iowa.
"The last two days of practice I've felt really good," ESPN quoted Cook telling reporters after practice. "[It's] the best I've felt since the injury."
He indicated the shoulder has been bothering him since hurting it, and said having extra time off between the Big Ten Championship and the upcoming Cotton Bowl game Dec. 31 has helped his recovery.
"I've been pretty limited in practice, and I'm pretty much doing everything in practice now," Cook said Wednesday, per MLive.com. "I'm pretty confident."
Michigan State will now turn its attention to protecting Cook and keeping him upright, junior left tackle Jack Conklin told reporters Wednesday.
"That'll be a huge factor," he said. "You watch them in their prior games, and it's going to come down to, 'Can we get the ball rolling to get Connor more time?'"
