Minnesota will be without safety Antoine Winfield, Jr. for a second straight week, head coach P.J. Fleck confirmed on Monday.

Fleck said that, due to a hamstring injury, Winfield won’t be available for Minnesota’s bout against Michigan State this week. Winfield also missed last Saturday’s game against Purdue.

In the first four games of the season, Winfield recorded 20 tackles, a sack and broke up two passes. He was injured early in the Maryland game two weeks ago and hasn’t seen the field since.

Winfield is regarded as the Gophers best defender in the secondary and a key playmaker for Minnesota. His absence really hurts, especially as Fleck continues to search for his first conference win as a B1G head coach.

Saturday’s game against Michigan State I scheduled 8 p.m kickoff ET. Minnesota is coming off a 31-17 loss to Purdue while the Spartans enter the game after knocking off rival Michigan 14-10.