From the start, Saturday looked different for Cody Lindenberg.
The Gophers linebacker, who hadn't played this season because of a leg injury suffered in late August, jogged onto the Huntington Bank Stadium field for early warmups. He was shirtless like his linebacker teammates on the 33-degree afternoon, and quickly joined in all their drills instead of working one-on-one with a trainer, as he had in previous weeks.
When the Gophers came out in full pads, Lindenberg was suited up. He started the game, made two tackles right away to help hold Michigan State to a field goal after Minnesota's opening-series turnover, and finished the game with three tackles, including one tackle for loss.
"Oh, we missed that guy," safety Tyler Nubin said of Lindenberg. "He's such a connector. Our whole defense, he just brings energy. The way he just conducts himself every single day, it makes everybody just elevate with him. Having '45' was definitely huge."
Gophers coach P.J. Fleck eased Lindenberg, the leading returning tackler from the 2022 team, back into the mix.
"Cody was on a pitch count. He played like 40 snaps, and that's exactly where the staff wanted him to be," Fleck said. "Of course, if it was up to him, he wouldn't come off the field. He'd play offense, too. That's the kind of guy he is."
In Lindenberg's absence, Devon Williams and Maverick Baranowski were thrown into the fire. They have progressed as the season has moved along. On Saturday, Williams led the team with nine tackles, while Baranowski had two.
"Not having [Lindenberg] there has made our linebacking corps grow up really fast," Fleck said.
