Gophers sophomore quarterback Zack Annexstad injured his foot Friday at practice and might be out indefinitely.
Annexstad becomes struggling with the beginning quarterback activity with fellow sophomore Tanner Morgan. The team announced the news of his injury Saturday morning ahead of an open exercise at TCF Bank Stadium.
“Towards the quit of exercise [Friday], non-touch injury, Zack threw a ball, felt a pop in his foot, much like that,” train P.J. Fleck stated. “It’s ‘indefinitely’ because there’s a time frame that it can match in that he should come returned. … We’re nevertheless gaining a lot of facts. But it’s severe harm.”
Fleck did the comic story saying this “makes a choice a touch bit less difficult” approximately his starting quarterback, with Morgan now the heir apparent. But the train did mourn what could have been “a first-rate competition” and revealed how the 2 virtually were neck and neck, with Morgan triumphing the primary practice and Annexstad the second.
Gophers quarterback Tanner Morgan handed the ball all through exercise Saturday.
In 2018, Annexstad surpassed nine touchdowns with seven interceptions, 1,277 yards, and a 51.9 completion percent. Morgan tallied identical touchdowns with fewer interceptions, 1,401 yards, and a 58.6 final touch percentage.
“It without a doubt hurt us a lot,” senior protective back Chris Williamson stated of dropping Annexstad. “But we have faith in Tanner Morgan. It’s his time to step up now, and he carried us the closing year, and he’s going to do it again.”
Fleck declined to say which foot Annexstad injured but did say this was a “freak” harm that’s a similar case to the simplest one or players he has coached in his time.
Injuries have plagued Annexstad already in his younger profession. He endured recurring high-ankle damage, first picked up in the 1/3 sport of the season ultimate yr, plus internal midsection damage 4 games later that despatched him to the hospital. After going 3-4, the injuries of the one forced Annexstad to make way for Morgan. Morgan completed the season at four-2, with massive victories at Wisconsin and inside the Quick Lane Bowl.
Annexstad, who wasn’t present at practice Saturday, had difficulty even speaking about final yr’s setbacks at some point of Tuesday’s media day.
“The last yr absolutely slowed me down,” Annexstad stated. “And, like, what I can do with my athleticism. And I’m now not going to blow you away with a four. Four 40 [-yard dash] or whatever crazy like that. But you men didn’t truly get to look at what I can do.”
Annexstad said his 2018 injury woes made him recognize how the sport “may be taken away” virtually speedy, and “conditions change in football sincerely speedy.”
While Fleck stated this injury is “devastating” for Annexstad, he additionally said he had been inspired by the sophomore’s superb response to it. And now, the point of interest turns to Morgan’s backup. Two opportunities are learners, Jacob Clark and Cole Kramer.
“It gives Tanner a variety of reps — I imply, a lot of reps — and we have to get him higher, too,” Fleck stated. “The other two, they get more reps as properly, and then you can put them in special situations. Maybe you have been simply seeking to get them evolved a little bit and make sure that they can get in there if something takes place. Now, it’s like, ‘OK, we’ve got to make certain that using the quit of camp, we realize who’s the next one in.’ ”
