Report: Minn. RB Shannon Brooks could miss start of season with foot injury

Minnesota could be without one of its top running backs for the beginning of the season.

Running back Shannon Brooks injured his foot during practice this week and will be out for 3-5 weeks, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. The paper said coach Tracy Claeys would provide more information over the weekend regarding the injury.

Brooks ran for 709 yards as a freshman in 2015 despite not playing in the first three games of the season. He ran for 176 yards on 17 carries against Purdue and 174 yards on 17 carries against Illinois. He also scored three touchdowns against the Illini.

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He was the team’s leading rusher despite having 38 fewer carries than Rodney Smith, who ran for 670 yards and two scores. If Brooks is out for the beginning of the season, Smith will begin the season as the Gophers’ primary back. The two were the only running backs on the roster to get more than 50 carries.

The Gophers open the season at home against Oregon State on Sep. 1. Minnesota then plays Indiana State and Colorado State before beginning Big Ten play against Penn State.

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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
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