MINNEAPOLIS — The Gophers are off to a 2-0 start but their starting quarterback Mitch Leidner is sidelined with a knee injury suffered late in Minnesota's 35-24 win Saturday against Middle Tennessee State.
"I don't know on Mitch at all," Minnesota coach Jerry Kill said Sunday about Leidner's status for Saturday's game at Texas Christian (1-0). "Any time you have a knee, you're concerned. We haven't had a lot of good luck with that. If it's not bad news, and he's able to practice, I'll tell you."
MRI results Saturday night revealed a strained left MCL, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.
Leidner helped to lead the Gophers to a 28-0 halftime lead Saturday but he was replaced in the fourth quarter by backup Chris Streveler when he limped off the field after getting bumped into on an incomplete pass play.
Leidner limped off the field with 14 minutes left in the fourth quarter. He tried to jog it off on the sideline after wearing a brace but couldn't push off.
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The redshirt sophomore leader's injury and a defense that struggled for most of the second half overshadowed a career-high 220-yard rushing performance by tailback David Cobb.
Cobb said Leidner was so competitive he wanted to come back into the game after getting hurt, but the Gophers were smart to go with Streveler.
"He knows the offense just like Mitch," Cobb said Sunday on the radio. "I'm sure he'll be ready for his opportunity. Of course, he'll have nerves just like anybody else. But we believe in him. If Strev's the guy we have to go with, we'll be behind him 100 percent."
Last year, starter Philip Nelson hurt his hamstring in the third game of the season. Leidner then led the team to wins over Western Illinois and San Jose State, and started four of the next five games. The Gophers eventually went to a two-quarterback system. But Nelson, who later transferred, regained his starting spot the last six games.
Whether Leidner can get healthy enough to play Saturday is uncertain. But if Streveler starts at Texas Christian, he would be the fifth starting quarterback for the program in the last three seasons.
"He's got to step up if that's the situation," Kill said Saturday. "I hope that's the not the case right now. That's nothing against Chris. You don't want anybody to get injured."
Kill had one of the youngest quarterback groups in the nation entering the season, including two redshirt freshmen (Streveler and Conor Rhoda) and two true freshmen (Dimonic Roden-McKinzy and walk-on Jacques Perra).
Leidner led the Gophers on three touchdown drives in the first half, which included a 27-yard scoring pass to tight end Maxx Williams.
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But Leidner completed just 5 of 11 passes for 67 yards with a touchdown and interception in the game. He wasn't too effective throwing against Eastern Illinois in the opener, either, going 9 for 17 for 144 yards and a touchdown.
Streveler finished Saturday's game for Leidner but wasn't asked to do much finishing with only a 2-yard run. He has just one completion for 12 yards this season, coming against Eastern Illinois. The Illinois native has six carries for 23 yards in two games.
Kill said on Sunday that Perra, a Roseville native, would be his No. 3 quarterback behind Leidner and Streveler if his team had to play again right now.
