The Gophers’ availability report for Saturday’s critical Penn State game just dropped, and let’s just say it’s not looking pretty. Heading into a matchup like this, you want your top guys ready to roll, but right now, veteran cornerback John Nestor is listed as questionable, leading a whole crew of important tight ends and defensive linemen also on the fence. Minnesota’s Wednesday and Thursday reports were identical, which doesn’t exactly instill confidence.
The Secondary Is Shaken, D-Line Is A Minefield
Losing Nestor, even for one game, is a brutal blow. The dude is third on the entire team with 501 defensive snaps this season, and get this, he leads the *entire defense* with a ridiculous 90.1 Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade. That’s elite level play they might be without. Aydan West has been right there with him at outside corner all year, but if Nestor sits, you’re looking at Naiim Parrish and Mike Gerald needing to step up big time in increased snaps. Talk about a trial by fire!
And it’s not just the secondary. The interior defensive line is an even bigger mess. Jaylin Hicks, who had a scary injury against UCLA, has already been ruled OUT for this week. On top of that, Riley Sunram and Theorin Randle are both questionable. Those two have combined for nearly 600 defensive snaps this season! If they can’t go, it means players like Naquan Crowder, Sid Kaba, and Mo Saine will get thrown into the fire against a tough Penn State offense. This is a massive hit to the trenches, and honestly, it’s gotta have Gophers fans sweating.
Tight End Troubles and Special Teams Swirl
The Gophers aren’t catching a break on offense either. Top tight end Pierce Walsh has been sidelined for the last three games with an injury, and their No. 2 tight end Julian Johnson missed last week’s game against UCLA. So, true freshman Roman Voss has seen his role expand, and guys like Jacob Simpson, George Rohl, and Jerome Williams have also been getting more time at tight end. They’re going to need those guys to be ready to contribute because the depth is getting thinner by the minute.
To add insult to injury, special teams ace Mason Carrier is a new addition to the report, also listed as questionable. Yeah, every team in the country is dealing with injuries by mid-November, it’s just how the game goes. But this laundry list for a “crucial” matchup against Penn State feels different, especially when Penn State is dealing with their own questionable defenders in Jahmir Joseph, Jeremiah Cooper, and Caleb Bacon, who have all played over 200 snaps this season. The Gophers are facing an uphill battle for Saturday’s game. They’ll need everyone who *can* play to play out of their minds.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply