Minnesota’s first Big Ten availability report of the week brought a mix of relief and concern ahead of Saturday’s trip to face No. 23 Washington in Seattle.
The headline for the Gophers is Darius Taylor. The running back is listed as probable after sitting out last week with a soft-tissue injury, putting him in line to make his Big Ten debut this weekend. Minnesota also has linebacker Matt Kingsbury, defensive back Aidan Gousby, and safety Zahir Rainer in the probable group.
Kingsbury started the first two games at linebacker alongside Maverick Baranowski before missing the Akron game, so his return would matter for Danny Collins. Gousby had been logging significant snaps at nickel through the first two weeks, and Rainer is expected to make his debut on special teams.
On the other side of the report, Minnesota has five players listed as out: running back Ryan Estrada, wide receiver Hayden Moore, offensive lineman Brett Carroll, Rush End Enoch Atewogbola, and defensive back Elisha West. The source notes all five are expected to miss the season because of injuries. Estrada and Moore would be active right now, while Carroll would likely have been the backup interior lineman.
There are also two Gophers tagged as questionable. Freshman running back Zeke Bates has dealt with a soft-tissue injury for more than a month, and when he is healthy, he is expected to be a likely debut in the Minnesota backfield.
Starting center Ashton Beers is the other question mark after missing time last week against Akron with an injury before returning and finishing the game. If Beers can’t go, that would be a major hit to the offensive line.
The Big Ten’s new availability system is now in place for conference games, with schools required to submit four reports each week. Those reports begin three days before kickoff and continue with updates two days and one day out, followed by a final game-day report due two hours before kickoff.
In Other News...
Kyan Evans Arrives At Minnesota With Something To Prove
Kyan Evans comes to Minnesota for his senior season with a familiar face waiting on the other end of the move. The point guard transferred in to reunite with coach Niko Medved after a difficult year at North Carolina, and he said the chance to play for a coach he knows, in a program he already understands, played a major role in his decision to make the jump.
For the Gophers, the addition gives the backcourt a veteran piece as they get ready for the season ahead. For Evans, it is a chance to reset his career in a setting that feels more comfortable, while also carrying the motivation of a player intent on showing more than he was able to last year. [Read more 🡒]
Minnesota Walks Into A Brutal Big Ten Test At Washington
Jedd Fisch is expecting Husky Stadium to have plenty of life when Washington opens Big Ten play against Minnesota, and the setting figures to be a major part of the challenge. The annual Black Out night only adds to the edge, and the Huskies are coming off a 48-16 win over Eastern Washington in which Demond Williams Jr. threw for 373 yards and four touchdowns, giving Washington some early momentum as the schedule tightens.
Minnesota arrives at 2-1 with P.J. Fleck already framing this stretch as the point where conference games start to define a season. Drake Lindsey has guided the offense, TJ Thomas has helped on the ground, and the Gophers now get their first real Big Ten test in a road environment that should tell them a lot about where they stand. [Read more 🡒]
Gophers Waiting On Cade Tyson Decision As Season Plans Hang In Balance
The Gophers are still waiting to find out whether Cade Tyson will get another year of eligibility, and the timeline now has a firmer marker. The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals has set a special session hearing for Oct. 13 in Tysons case, keeping Minnesota in a holding pattern as it maps out the season ahead. Tyson has already enrolled in classes and is practicing with the team while pursuing the extra year under a new NCAA rule.
Minnesotas roster can absorb the uncertainty for now. The Gophers currently have 15 players on the roster, and Tyson could be added as a Designated Student-Athlete without counting against the cap, which gives the staff some flexibility while the legal process plays out. But until the court makes its move, Tysons status remains one of the bigger variables in how the Gophers finalize their plans. [Read more 🡒]