Which Minnesota players are out for Thursday night's season opener?
Two hours before Thursday night’s kickoff between Minnesota and Buffalo, the Golden Gophers released their first availability report of the season. Here is who is out and questionable for the Golden Gophers.
| Player | Designation |
| #24 CB Jai’Onte’ McMIllan | Questionable |
| #4 WR Cristian Driver | OUT |
| #12 S Darius Green | OUT |
| #13 WR Bradley Martino | OUT |
| #13 CB Mike Gerald | OUT |
| #20 WR Legend Lyons | OUT |
| #30 LB Drew Wilson | OUT – SEASON |
| #30 K Sam Henson | OUT |
| #50 DT Mo Omonode | OUT – SEASON |
| #51 OL Daniel Shipp | OUT |
| #52 OL Spencer Alvarez | OUT |
| #99 DT Theorin Randle | OUT |
The most notable absences for the Beavers tonight include wide receiver Cristian Driver, safety Darius Green, cornerback Mike Gerald, defensive tackle Mo Omonode, and defensive tackle Theorin Randle.
Driver heading into the season was expected to be a part of the Gophers’ wide receiver rotation, likely the backup to Logan Loya in the slot position.
Green and Gerald were both expected to be major parts of the Minnesota secondary this fall as well. Green was the frontrunner to be the Gophers’ starter at nickel back and was having the best camp of his collegiate career before being banged up. Gerald, a redshirt freshman, emerged over the spring and fall camps as an up-and-coming talent who was going to see serious playing time for the Gophers. Once Gerald is healthy, he’ll have the opportunity not only to compete for snaps but also to potentially earn a starting role.
Defensive tackles Mo Omonode and Theorin Randle’s absences are both expected but are still quite notable. Omonode was not seen practicing during fall camp after joining the program in the spring. Notably, the Indiana native did not practice for Purdue in the spring due to a back injury.
Randle’s exact injury is unknown, but after not being seen at several practices ahead of the season, it was expected that he would be out for an extended period of time.
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