Tanner Morgan out for remainder of Minnesota vs Nebraska with apparent injury

As Minnesota took the field to start the second half against Nebraska on Saturday, the Golden Gophers showed off a new look. Quarterback Tanner Morgan didn’t start the half — and he won’t return, P.J. Fleck told ESPN2’s Taylor McGregor.

Morgan is out with an apparent injury after taking a bit hit on a sack in the second quarter, McGregor reported after halftime. That meant Athan Kaliakmanis took over under center, but Fleck made it clear the decision came from the medical team. It wasn’t a result of Minnesota’s struggles on offense in the first half.

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“Tanner Morgan will not play in the second half,” McGregor said on the ESPN2 broadcast. “P.J. Fleck telling me this is not a quarterback controversy. The medical staff decided to hold him out of the second half to due to an undisclosed injury. … The fact that Tanner Morgan is not playing is interesting, guys. We’ll see what Minnesota can do to get their offense going.”

Morgan had a rough go in the first two quarters, completing six of eight passes for 38 yards as the Golden Gophers failed to score against Nebraska at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. In fact, Minnesota only had just 31 yards of total offense in the first half, but came out of the second half with a 46-yard drive to get on the board with a field goal.

Now, it’s Kaliakmanis’ turn at quarterback for Minnesota. He’s a former four-star recruit and was the No. 23-ranked quarterback from the class of 2021, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He entered Saturday’s game with 259 passing yards and a touchdown while contributing 50 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground.

This also means both teams are down to their backup quarterbacks. Nebraska starter Casey Thompson isn’t dressed due to an arm injury, meaning Chubba Purdy started for the Cornhuskers. Purdy looked the part in the first half against Minnesota, throwing for 41 yards on 6-of-12 passing while also rushing for 20 yards and a touchdown to help Nebraska take its first halftime lead of the season.