Max Shortell is the Gophers' starting quarterback as they prepare for Purdue, coach Jerry Kill said Tuesday, "but that could change." MarQueis Gray must prove he is fully recovered from a case of turf toe, and be able to practice at full speed, the coach said, before they will consider using the junior QB.
"He's progressed. But is it enough to go out and play a game?" Kill said. "I don't know. We'll know more as the week goes on."
Offensive tackle Jimmy Gjere won't practice, Kill said, and Ed Olson's status hasn't been determined. Receivers Da'Jon McKnight and Malcolm Moulton should be available, but running back Donnell Kirkwood is still bothered by a sore hamstring.
"He wasn't 100 percent. He's got to get healthy," Kill said of the redshirt-freshman tailback. "You can't play half-speed in this game, certainly against the University of Michigan. He wasn't able to give us a lot."
Cornerback Troy Stoudermire, who sat out the loss to Michigan with a fractured left forearm, is not listed on the Gophers' two-deep this week, but Kill said he will practice on Tuesday to determine whether he is able to play with a cast on his arm.