The Gophers’ offensive line will be a patchwork unit for the rest of 2026 as starting center Ashton Beers has been ruled out with a season-ending injury, a source told the Pioneer Press on Wednesday.

Beers was officially listed as out on Minnesota’s first unavailability report going into the Michigan game on Saturday, but the severity is worse. The 6-foot-6, 320-pounder’s absence will extend through all eight remaining games.

Beers appeared to suffer an injury to his lower right leg during the 41-7 win over the Zips on Sept. 12. The senior from Slinger, Wis., returned to play against the Zips, and was initially listed as questionable for Washington game last Saturday before ultimately being ruled out ahead of the 27-24 win over the Huskies in Seattle.

Before Beers was injured, backup center Brett Carroll was lost for the season to a leg injury during preseason camp in August. Losing two centers can be devastating to a college football roster these days, where depth is light as backups seek paydays and playing time at other programs.

Last week, Gophers coach P.J. Fleck said he told a fellow Big Ten coach about the U’s predicament at center. The anonymous colleague asked what Fleck was going to do at the position, and Fleck joked the U was going to punt on first down.

Instead, Minnesota moved preseason All-American guard Greg Johnson to center against the Huskies. Johnson, who started 13 games at center in 2024, led an O-line that helped the Gophers rush for 125 yards and kept quarterback Drake Lindsey from being sacked at Husky Stadium.

But that shift meant Johnson’s left guard spot needed to be filled.

Jaden Ball made his first career at left guard against the Huskies. But Ball, a second-year transfer from Purdue, is also listed as questionable to play the Wolverines, per the U list.

The full Gophers’ unavailability report said:

Probable: Running back A.J. Turner, running back Zeke Bates, defensive end Adam Kissayi.

Questionable: Ball, defensive lineman Riley Sunram.

Out: Beers (season), Carroll (season), offensive lineman Beckett Schreiber, receiver Hayden Moore, running back Ryan Estrada (season), defensive back Elisha West (season) and defensive lineman Enoch Atewogbola (season).

Source: Yahoo Sports