Minnesota’s second open practice of fall camp is set for Thursday, August 20th, and this one should give fans a better look at a team that’s already starting to come into focus.
The Gophers are two weeks into camp for the 2026 season, and while some position battles are still playing out, there’s enough clarity now to know where the real headliners are. The first open practice came with a morning start on a work day, which meant plenty of interested fans couldn’t get there. This time, the team will take the field under the lights at Huntington Bank Stadium with a 5:30 PM start.
With that in mind, here are a couple players worth tracking when the Gophers open things up again.
Drake Lindsey is the obvious name at the top of the list, even if it feels almost too easy. Quarterback always draws eyes at practice, and Lindsey draws them for a better reason than most.
He’s already locked in as Minnesota’s starter for 2026, with Max Shikenjanski firmly established as the backup, so there’s no drama attached to the depth chart. The interest is about the player himself.
Lindsey has already sparked conversation about being a potential first-round pick in a future NFL draft, and that isn’t just empty hype. The source of that buzz is easy to see.
Through the first two practices media have been allowed to watch, he has looked sharp. His arm talent was never the question, but now that he’s entering his second season as a starter, his processing appears to have taken another step.
For anyone heading to the open practice, he’s the one to slow down and really watch.
Hayden Moore is another player who should have fans leaning in. The early-enrollee freshman arrived on campus this spring and immediately started turning heads. Instead of spending all his time learning with the other newcomers, Moore earned reps with the first and second teams and capped the spring with an impressive spring game.
That momentum has carried into fall camp. Moore flashed big-play ability during the first open practice, including a pair of deep catches, and he has carved out regular reps behind Jalen Smith, Javon Tracy, and Noah Jennings. He did hit a small snag in week two of camp when a minor injury kept him out on Thursday, so his status will be something to watch next week.
If Moore is back on the field, he’s the kind of downfield threat Minnesota could use. With Lindsey throwing the ball, that combination is worth paying attention to.
To my eyes, Moore is the most impressive freshman wide receiver to arrive in Dinkytown since Rashod Bateman showed up in 2018. That alone makes him a player fans should keep close tabs on when the Gophers open practice again.
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TJ Thomas Is At The Center Of Minnesotas Rushing Reset
Minnesotas rushing game has been looking for a reset since last seasons attrition left the backfield short on answers, and the Gophers have gone into this year needing more than just healthy bodies. The teams interest in improving at running back is about more than volume, too, with a clear emphasis on finishing runs and breaking tackles after ranking low in that area in recent seasons.
TJ Thomas is part of that effort after transferring in from Elon, where he made an immediate impression as a freshman. His arrival gives Minnesota another back to build around as it works through a position group that has been hit by departures and injuries, and his progress after upper-body surgery will be something to monitor as the Gophers try to find a more dependable ground identity. [Read more 🡒]