Coming into Saturday’s opener against Western Michigan, it was fair to question which players wearing the winged helmet would establish themselves as playmakers. More than one answer came out of Ann Arbor in the first week of the season.

Michigan cruised to a 47-14 victory over Western Michigan on Saturday, showing no signs of trouble against the in-state MAC foe. The lone instance of concern came in the first quarter, when the Broncos tied the game at 7-7 when former Michigan State running back La’Darius Jefferson punched the ball across the goal line.

After that, it was all Michigan.

The Wolverines saw multiple offensive players step up in a big way in Saturday’s opener. Blake Corum flashed his potential out of the backfield and in the kick return game. He finished the afternoon with 111 yards and a touchdown on the ground on 14 carries and also had a 79-yard return. Corum also hauled in 2 catches for 22 yards and a touchdown.

Hassan Haskins was also a sizzler at running back, adding 70 yards and a score. A.J. Henning showed off his speed at receiver, taking an end-around play 74 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. He finished the contest with 11 receiving yards in addition to that big run.

Cade McNamara proved to be the consistent passer Michigan needs, at least in Week 1. He completed 9-of-11 passes for 136 yards and 2 touchdowns. He still hasn’t thrown an interception at Michigan.

There was a lot of good coming out of Ann Arbor from the guys wearing the maize and blue on Saturday. But it might’ve been overshadowed by a critical moment that may have a significant impact on the rest of the season.

Following a 31-yard punt return, Ronnie Bell sustained an injury that resulted in the receiver being carted off the field. An update out of halftime indicated he was sitting in a wheelchair but there was no update on his status.

While he was on the field, Bell looked like Michigan’s best offensive weapon.

Bell had just 1 catch in the game, a 76-yard touchdown reception to give Michigan a 17-7 advantage in the second quarter. He also made a ridiculous one-handed catch while tip-toeing the sideline, a moment that went viral on Twitter. Bell was whistled for offensive pass interference on the play, but the reception was the play of the day.

On that punt return before his injury, Bell sliced and slashed through Western Michigan’s punt team, coming oh so close to breaking a big play. He was undoubtedly the biggest deep threat for McNamara in the passing attack.

If Bell is out for a substantial amount of time, it’s a huge blow to Michigan’s offense.

The silver lining from Saturday? Michigan doesn’t look like a one-hit-wonder on offense this year. The Wolverines don’t have to rely on just one guy to get the job done. Corum and Haskins looked capable out of the backfield. Henning could easily become the new No. 1 receiver. McNamara is providing consistency.

Bell’s potential absence would be a significant loss for Michigan moving forward. This year, though, it looks like the Wolverines have plenty of players who could pick up the slack.