By Steve SilverThe Daily Northwestern

Sophomore running back Tyrell Sutton’s disappearance from action in Saturday’s loss to No. 2 Michigan was due to a lower leg injury, according to coach Pat Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald said Monday that Sutton hurt his leg late in the third quarter and despite wanting to return, the coaching staff held him out for precautionary purposes.

Sutton is currently listed as probable for this week’s contest at Iowa.

“He got twisted up pretty good in the game, and that’s why he didn’t return,” Fitzgerald said about Sutton, who rushed for a career-low six yards on seven carries Saturday.

He also caught a team-high six passes for 55 yards.

“We are not going to go out there and put one of our better players in harm’s way at the end of a football game when the training staff is communicating with me that it is probably not in his best interest to go back out there,” Fitzgerald said. “So he will be limited (in today’s practice) for sure.”

Sutton has not only struggled to garner the attention of the offensive play callers, rushing just 115 times for 665 yards, but he has also battled a slew of injuries.

Prior to Saturday’s minor leg injury, Sutton had already suffered a separated shoulder, concussion and broken finger this season.

“He is a tough young man,” Fitzgerald said. “I just love the way that he continues to fight and continues to want the ball. He’s got a great attitude, and that’s all I can ask for.”

Forced to play without Sutton for the entire fourth quarter of Saturday’s 17-3 loss, NU’s offense amassed just 45 total yards on 16 plays.

Fitzgerald said he would know more information on the extent of Sutton’s injury as the week progresses.

“Tyrell is a gamer first off,” sophomore quarterback C.J. Bach