Minnesota got good injury news about receiver Chris Autman-Bell on Monday.

Coach P.J. Fleck announced that Autman-Bell did not suffer a longterm injury last week, as was initially feared. He had to be helped off the practice field last week after he was “bent backwards.”

Fleck described his status as “week-to-week” in a radio interview on Monday.

Autman-Bell is Minnesota’s No. 1 receiver entering 2021. Fleck said he was “ready for the challenge” of having that role in the Gophers’ offense earlier this offseason.

Entering his senior year, Bell spent most of his first three years with the Gophers playing behind Rashod Bateman in Minnesota’s offense. Still, he has managed to produce 1,250 yards and 6 touchdowns across three seasons. 5 of those touchdowns came during a breakout sophomore campaign.

Minnesota opens the season with Ohio State on Sept. 2, so the Gophers will have to hope that “week-to-week” becomes “day-to-day” sooner rather than later.