Minnesota’s offense took another hit last weekend, and this one looked especially rough.
Freshman receiver Hayden Moore injured his right leg in the first quarter of the Gophers’ 38-13 loss to Mississippi State and will not play Saturday against Akron, the Pioneer Press learned this week. Moore’s injury comes just one week after running back Ryan Estrada went down with a season-ending knee injury in Minnesota’s 59-7 win over Eastern Illinois on Sept.
- The two freshmen were expected to bring depth and juice to the Gophers’ offense this season.
The play itself was hard to watch. Moore caught a tunnel screen on the opening drive, turned upfield and then took a low hit from a Bulldogs defensive back after a 7-yard gain.
CBS announcer Brad Kessler reacted to the replay with, “Oh, that’s not a good look,” and added, “Right knee, for sure. We will check on him, say a prayer and cross our fingers.”
The network chose not to show the replay again. Moore grabbed at his knee and needed help from the athletic training staff to get to the injury tent.
Moore had earned a quick role in the rotation after standing out in preseason camp and getting on the field right away. At 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, he gives Minnesota a bigger target at receiver. He has three catches for 49 yards through the first two games.
With Moore out, freshman Quayd Hendryx could see a bigger role behind the Gophers’ top three receivers - Javon Tracy, Noah Jennings and Jalen Smith. Hendryx, a 5-11, 180-pound receiver from Burlington Township, N.J., has one catch for 13 yards and two kickoff returns for 51 yards this season.
Tracy said he and Smith have tried to help both Hendryx and Moore adjust since arriving on campus earlier this year. “Sadly, unfortunately (Moore) got hurt,” Tracy said Wednesday.
“But Quayd and Hayden, they are both, they don’t really act like freshmen, they are always wanting to learn. They are very coachable.”
Minnesota also doesn’t have to release injury statuses for nonconference games under a new Big Ten policy. That changes once conference play arrives, with the U required to disclose player availability beginning the week before its Big Ten opener at Washington on Sept. 26.
Last weekend also featured some pregame tension between the teams. Defensive tackle Naquan Crowder and safety Zach Harden were shown on CBS in minor scuffles with Mississippi State players before kickoff.
Harden was bumped by Bulldogs defensive tackle Trevion Williams while walking the sideline, and Harden responded by throwing a football at Williams’ back. Williams then moved toward Harden before a Mississippi State staffer stepped in.
“I think it’s always really hard when you have two teams that are highly competitive,” Fleck told the Pioneer Press. “Everybody’s on the field at the same time.
Sometimes the officials are there, sometimes officials aren’t there. But I think that’s just whatever happens.
That’s all kind of the intensity of pregame.”
The Gophers usually warm up in the east end zone, but some Mississippi State players drifted onto Minnesota’s side of the field a few hours before the game.
There was at least one bright spot for Minnesota on Saturday. Quarterback Drake Lindsey set a program record for pass attempts without an interception, reaching 225 and breaking Max Brosmer’s mark of 206 set in 2024.
“Just the process throughout the week, trusting what (offensive coordinator Greg) Harbaugh is teaching me,” Lindsey said Wednesday. “Then the O-line has done a fantastic job of pass (protection). The wideouts are running the routes correctly, getting in the right spots.”
Lindsey said there’s still a balance to strike between taking care of the ball and pushing for bigger plays downfield.
That, he said, comes down to, “Understanding the situation throughout the game and maybe if the situation calls for an explosive play and we need it, trusting my guy to go make a play.”
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