Gophers banged up heading into Wisconsin

Nov 12, 2011; Minneapolis, MN, USA: Minnesota Gophers wide receiver Brandon Green (1) runs with the ball in the first quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-US PRESSWIRE

Minnesota coach Jerry Kill had another seizure following his program’s 21-13 loss to Northwestern last Saturday, but he’s not expected to miss any time.

If only his players could bounce back just the same.

Kill said at his Tuesday press conference his senior quarterback MarQueis Gray is still “in a boot” after suffering a low ankle sprain in the rainy homecoming loss last week. Minnesota’s quarterbacking situation took two hits on the Gophers weekly injury report, as their starting left tackle Ed Olson Jr. is “very questionable” and will likely sit out this week against the Badgers.

Kill was pessimistic about wide receivers Marcus Jones and Devin Crawford-Tufts playing, as both are also listed as questionable.

Sophomore Max Shortell is most likely to start under center for the fourth time this season, despite struggling mightily in the Northwestern game. Shortell threw 9 for 19 for 103 yards, but it was his immobility that hurt Minnesota the most.

Shortell took three sacks to Gray’s zero and overthrew multiple crucial throws on the Gophers final drive of the game.

For better or worse, Minnesota has no other choice but to start Shortell — outside of freshman QB Phillip Nelson.

“We’re not going to play somebody who’s 70 percent [healthy] at quarterback,” Kill said referring to Gray.

Shortell has thrown four interceptions in three starts this year and Minnesota has given up six turnovers in its past two games.

If Minnesota has any shot at plugging the hole in their sinking ship of a season, it can’t give anything away to a more talented team in Wisconsin.

Especially going up against an unstoppable force in Wisconsin running back Monte Ball, who has put up eight touchdowns in his last three games.

Suffice to say, after losing back-to-back Big Ten games against lesser foes than the Badgers — the Gophers are push overs, not immovable objects, going into Saturday’s game.