A week off have has given the Gophers a chance to heal heading into Saturday's game against Northwestern.
Coach Jerry Kill said Tuesday that the team held 12 or 13 players out of practice last week, but several returned Sunday, and several others are due back today. David Cobb was among the players who sat out when the team practiced last Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
"He was banged up a little after the Michigan game, and we didn't do a lot with him until Sunday," Kill said. "But Sunday he was full-speed again. He went back to work."
The bye week helped quarterback Mitch Leidner, too. He practiced last week, but the Gophers were careful to make sure he could heal his turf toe and sprained MCL.
Leidner, in fact, busted off an 85-yard run in last Thursday's practice.
"We wouldn't play him if it was a risk or anything like that," Kill said. "I thought he moved well [against Michigan]. I don't see anything different in practice."
