Gophers O-line banged up, Shannon Brooks questionable for Nebraska game

November 8, 2017 at 1:12PM
Minnesota's quarterback Demry Croft, center, walked off the field with offensive lineman Donnell Greene, left, as tempers flared during the fourth quarter the Gophers took on Michigan in Michigan Stadium, Saturday, November 4, 2017 in Ann Arbor, MI.
Minnesota's quarterback Demry Croft, center, walked off the field with offensive lineman Donnell Greene, left, as tempers flared during the fourth quarter the Gophers took on Michigan in Michigan Stadium, Saturday, November 4, 2017 in Ann Arbor, MI. (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

When the Gophers face Nebraska on Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium, they'll be doing so with a new-look offensive line.

"It'll be different," P.J. Fleck said during his KFXN-FM radio show Tuesday, declining to elaborate.

Left tackle Donnell Greene, who was ejected from last week's Michigan game on the last play of the third quarter for punching a Wolverines safety Tyree Kinnel, is facing discipline from Fleck.

"Internally, he'll pay the price,'' Fleck said at his news conference Tuesday, adding that it "probably'' would carry over to Saturday's game.

"That's unacceptable, period. … I refuse to let that slide,'' he said.

A Big Ten spokesman said Tuesday that Greene and Michigan safety Josh Metellus, who retaliated against Greene and also was ejected, would not face suspension from a conference level.

Center Jared Weyler left the Michigan game after aggravating a foot injury that caused him to miss three games earlier in the season. Weyler is not listed on the depth chart; Conner Olson, the regular starter at right guard, is slated to start at center.

If Greene is out, left guard Garrison Wright or right guard Vincent Calhoun would move to tackle; both have experience at the position. Quinn Oseland and Bronson Dovich are listed as the backups at guard.

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Brooks questionable

Running back Shannon Brooks, the co-starter with Rodney Smith for most of the season, did not play at Michigan and is not on the depth chart.

Fleck said on his radio show that Brooks is in concussion protocol and "our doctors feel right now he's not ready yet. That can change as we get closer to Saturday."

Kobe McCrary, who left the Michigan game in the third quarter because of a neck injury, is listed as Smith's backup for Nebraska. Jonathan Femi-Cole replaced McCrary and rushed four times for 26 yards.

No beef with Harbaugh

When Chris Evans' 67-yard touchdown run extended Michigan's lead over the Gophers to 33-7 with 1:35 left in the third quarter, Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh opted to try a two-point conversion, which failed, rather than kick an extra point. Fleck had no issue with that decision.

"The object of the game is to score as many points as you possibly can in a 60-minute time frame. It's not about feelings,'' he said on KFXN. "It's about scoring points when you have the football. … If you don't like it, don't be down by so much."

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Randy Johnson

College football reporter

Randy Johnson covers University of Minnesota football and college football for the Minnesota Star Tribune, along with Gophers hockey and the Wild.

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