PJ Fleck updates Mohamed Ibrahim's status following surprising Week 5 absence

P.J. Fleck addressed that senior running back Mohamed Ibrahim was close to playing coming off an ankle injury. The absence of Ibrahim was noticeable as No. 21 Minnesota suffered its first loss of the 2022 season at home to Purdue 20-10.

Despite no injury report on Ibrahim prior to kickoff, Fleck revealed after the game that Ibrahim was “close” to playing but probably needed “a few more days.”

P.J. Fleck on #Gophers star RB Mohamed Ibrahim, who missed today's loss to Purdue with a lower-leg injury:

"Mo was close. If we had a few more days, he would have been able to go. I kind of felt like he was going to go. … But we're always going to keep our players safe."

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) October 1, 2022

Purdue outgained Minnesota in total yards accounted for 359-to-304. Minnesota only rushed for 47 yards on 26 carries for an average of 3.2 yards per carry. Senior running back Bryce Williams was the leading ball carrier for the Golden Gophers as he was rushed for 35 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.

While the lack of an established running game was a problem for Minnesota, the passing game’s problems doomed the Golden Gophers. Tanner Morgan threw 3 costly interceptions and accounted for a QBR of 23.7.