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P.J. Fleck confirms Minnesota’s starting safety out vs. Michigan State
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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.
#Gophers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (hamstring) is out against Michigan State, @Coach_Fleck says. Safety Duke McGhee could play Fleck says.
— Randy Johnson (@RJstrib) October 9, 2017
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.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB