With 10 more days to heal, MarQueis Gray will likely reclaim his starting role when the Gophers open the second half of their season against Nebraska on Oct. 22, coach Jerry Kill said Tuesday.
"He's been our quarterback since we started," Kill said. "If MarQueis came out of the game pretty good, he'll be the starter against the University of Nebraska."
Gray, who suffered a turf-toe ligament injury on his left foot during Minnesota's Sept. 24 game, is expected to resume practicing with no restrictions today.
Gray did not suit up for the Gophers' loss at Michigan on Oct. 1, and he sat out the Gophers' first three series last Saturday at Purdue, with freshman Max Shortell taking over the position in both cases. Gray "did not take a full-speed rep until Thursday," Kill said. "When you don't take full-speed reps, it's hard to play."
But Gray relieved Shortell against the Boilermakers and played the remaining three quarters, completing 8 of 20 passes for 104 yards, with one interception. He also gained 20 yards on the ground.
"MarQueis is learning. He's coming along," Kill said. "He's a tremendous athlete. We've got to keep teaching him."
Kill also said freshman running back David Cobb will not practice this week as he receives treatment for a hamstring injury suffered in practice last week. But the coach is hopeful that offensive linemen Zach Mottla and Josh Campion may be cleared to play again after suffering concussions earlier this year.