Running back injuries leave Gophers shuffling ahead of Michigan State

The Gophers are a football team that runs the ball 63.9% of the time, so when both Zach Evans and Darius Taylor left last weekend's game at Iowa because of injuries, coach P.J. Fleck suddenly had a situation for Saturday's home game vs. Michigan State.

Taylor, a true freshman, left Minnesota's 12-10 victory over the Hawkeyes early in the fourth quarter. He had an 11-yard gain on his final carry but grabbed his left hamstring after being tackled. Taylor led the Gophers with 59 yards on 16 carries.

Evans, a redshirt freshman, left the game late in the second quarter because of a right leg injury suffered on his 10th and final carry, leaving him with 44 rushing yards. He limped off the field with assistance from trainers.

Fleck on Monday was asked what his backfield might look like if Taylor and Evans can't play.

"We'll see. The good thing is we got some good news on some guys,'' Fleck said, without identifying the players. "Jordan Nubin is going to have to be able to be ready to go; he was ready last week. Sean Tyler, too. Hopefully, we'll have one of [Taylor or Evans] in the mix. Next man up.''

Fleck also said that it is "realistic'' that linebacker Cody Lindenberg, who has not played this year because of a leg injury, could return in November, play four games and still qualify for a redshirt season.

The final word on injuries will come two hours before Saturday's 2:30 p.m. kickoff when the Big Ten releases its availability report.

Gophers placekicker Dragan Kesich and safety Tyler Nubin each took home Big Ten weekly honors.

Kesich was named special teams player of the week after kicking field goals of 43, 44, 28 and 31 yards, accounting for all of Minnesota's points. It was the second weekly honor for Kesich, who won on Sept. 5 after kicking a 47-yard field goal as time expired to help the Gophers beat Nebraska 13-10 in the opener.

Nubin was named defensive player of the week after the Gophers held Iowa to only 12 yards of offense in the second half. Nubin had four tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup against the Hawkeyes. He also earned the conference's weekly defensive honor on Sept. 5.

The Gophers' Nov. 4 game against Illinois at Huntington Bank Stadium will kick off at 2:30 p.m. and air on BTN, the conference announced. It will be Minnesota's fourth 2:30 p.m. start this season, joining the North Carolina, Iowa and Michigan State games.

Fleck took time Monday to acknowledge former Gophers running back Mohamed Ibrahim, who underwent surgery to repair a dislocated hip suffered while returning a kickoff for the Detroit Lions on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. Ibrahim, the Gophers' all-time leading rusher, was playing in his first NFL game and had his first touch of the season when he was tackled.

"I got a chance to talk to him [on FaceTime],'' Fleck said. "He's doing OK. He's in really good spirits, which is good.''