Decker doing all he can to overcome ankle injury

By KENT YOUNGBLOOD, Star Tribune

Last update: November 19, 2008 - 7:36 AM

Eric Decker walked out of the locker room without a limp. But his left ankle was ugly, discolored.

Don't worry, he said. His ankle is feeling better. It's a burn. Seems Decker, a bit overzealous, applied a heating pad that might have been a little too hot. Decker has been putting in overtime in the training room since suffering a high ankle sprain against Northwestern.

He tried to return against Michigan but couldn't. He was frustrated on the sidelines in Wisconsin, watching a game he would have given almost anything to play in. This Saturday, in the Gophers' season finale against Iowa, Decker will be back in the lineup.

"No way I miss this game,'' Decker said. "Doesn't matter the pain I have. I'll tolerate it.''

The question is, how effective will he be? Decker said Tuesday he feels far better than when he tried to play against the Wolverines, but is not yet 100 percent. This was after taking part in practice.

"I'm not where I want to be,'' he said. "But it's just Tuesday. I'm a lot better than I was [a week ago]. Taking that last week off, doing a lot of treatment, has definitely made a difference.''

Gophers coach Tim Brewster said he expects Decker to play and be effective. Adding a nearly healthy Decker to a receiving group that has grown up in recent weeks could add a jolt to the Minnesota offense.

For Decker, it's been difficult not being able to help a team that is on a three-game losing streak. He had 73 catches in his first nine games. He had one against Michigan and didn't play last week. He's looking for a strong finish.

So is his quarterback and friend Adam Weber.

"He's going to be hurting,'' Weber said. "But I'm amazed by his determination to play in this game.''

No Dome depression

Brewster was part of an Illinois team that beat the Gophers in the first Big Ten game at the Metrodome. Saturday he'll coach the Gophers in their last game there.

Emotion? Not for the Dome.

"I'm an outdoor football guy,'' he said. "I don't think the Dome is conducive to college football or a game-day experience for college fans. So I think we're all excited about going to TCF Bank Stadium.''

But doesn't he have any special memory of the Dome?

"No,'' Brewster said.

"I won't miss it too much at all,'' Weber said. ''I'm sure there will be some people who will when it's 15 degrees outside. But football was meant to be played outside.

"We've been missing out on something very special that college football can bring. We haven't had that around here in a while.''

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