Brewster: Decker will play

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Eric Decker has played through plenty of pain this season while piling up the big receiving numbers for Minnesota.

It seems as if he’s going to add a sprained ankle to the growing list of ailments that haven’t been able to keep him off the field.

Gophers coach Tim Brewster said Tuesday Decker will be limited in practice this week by a sprained left ankle suffered in last week’s loss to Northwestern, but he fully expects the Big Ten’s leading receiver to be in uniform Saturday against Michigan.

“Eric Decker is as tough, as hard-nosed, as committed an athlete as there is in college football today. Period,” Brewster said. “He takes tremendous pride in playing and he’ll be ready to go.”

Decker was not available for comment on Tuesday. He was injured last weekend when a Wildcats defender rolled up on his ankle while making a tackle. Of the injuries he’s played through this season, this one may be the easiest.

“Eric, I think, is going to be fine,” Brewster said. “He’s got an ankle sprain. It’s nothing more than an ankle sprain. So with a lot of treatment this week and some rest we think he’ll be ready to go on Saturday. We certainly hope so.”

Decker was knocked out cold briefly against Indiana and a bum shoulder hampered him against Illinois. He played through the injuries in both games, just as he did against Northwestern.

He finished with seven catches for 62 yards and a touchdown, but also had a pass from Adam Weber slip through his fingers in the closing seconds and into the waiting arms of Brendan Smith, who returned the interception 48 yards for the winning touchdown with 12 seconds to go.

The offensive focal point of the Gophers (7-2, 3-2), Decker’s 73 catches this season are 19 more than the next closest receiver in the conference — Purdue’s Greg Orton. He averages 99.4 yards per game, which is also good for tops in the Big Ten.

“I think unfortunately he’s had to take a couple lumps for the team and he knows that it’s allowing other guys to get open,” tight end Jack Simmons said. “The way he got beat up in the last game is a big reason why Ben was able to make so many catches. Teams are going to focus on him and he knows that.”

Weber is Decker’s roommate, and the two sometimes will sit at home and compare bruises and injuries. The quarterback said he has no doubt his favorite target will be on the field for Minnesota’s last game against the Wolverines (2-7, 1-4) at the Metrodome. The Gophers move into the brand new TCF Bank Stadium next season.

“I think a lot of guys are hurting at this point in the season and obviously at his position having a tweaked ankle isn’t the best thing in the world, but he’ll be all right,” said Weber, still sporting a shiner over his left eye from the Northwestern game. “We expect him to be out there, but we know Eric’s going to do what’s best for himself and he’s going to make the right decision. But I expect him to be out there and so does everybody else.”

Tags: college football, big ten, minnesota