Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck confirmed Saturday that sophomore quarterback Zack Annexstad is out indefinitely after suffering a foot injury in practice.
“Injuries are an unfortunate part of the game, and we feel terrible for Zack,” said Fleck. “He worked extremely hard in the spring and summer to put himself in position to compete for the starting job, and I know he will recover from this setback to be even stronger.
“Zack is an elite teammate and person, and I look forward to him being an important part of the team as a leader while he is recovering.”
It’s grim news for Annexstad, whose season could be over, although it remains unclear what exactly happened to the former Mankato West High School star. Fleck only said that the injury happened Friday and was a non-contact injury.
“Zack threw the ball and felt a pop in his foot. The timeline is indefinitely because there’s a time frame he could fit in that he could come back, wherever it is in the year, somehow someway,” said Fleck, via 247 Sports. “So I can’t sit there and say he’s out for the year, and I can’t sit there and say he’ll come back. We’re still gaining a lot of information, and it’s a serious injury.”
With Annexstad out, redshirt sophomore Tanner Morgan is in line to start.
Morgan split time with Annexstad starting games last season. He passed for 1,401 yards with nine touchdowns and six interceptions, while completing 58.6 percent of his passes.
If Morgan goes down with an injury, one of the freshmen, Jacob Clark or Cole Kramer, would have to step in.
Minnesota opens the season Aug. 29 against South Dakota State.
