Darius Taylor missed seven games last season, and the Gophers top running back has already missed one this year, the season-opening 19-17 loss to North Carolina on Thursday.

How many more game could (and should) Minnesota’s leading rusher be sidelined?

Taylor is believed to be dealing with a hamstring injury, a notoriously persnickety issue that can be prone to aggravation. It’s what cost him more than half of last season, and in the offseason, the U athletic training staff and Taylor focused on improving how Taylor cares for his body.

Taylor, who had 799 yards in six games a year ago, was ruled out before the Tar Heels loss, but bounced around in some warm-up exercises a few hours before kickoff at Huntington Bank Stadium.

“He’s really close from being out there, but I don’t make those decisions,” head coach P.J. Fleck said. “I support them 100%. I don’t make them. (We) have a whole medical staff that makes those things. I know he was disappointed and he really wants to go, but our medical staff always has our players’ best interest at heart and they are going to make those decisions. But he will be ready very soon.”

But how soon will that be? Minnesota has two nonconference home games remaining — FCS-level Rhode Island on Saturday and Nevada, which is picked to finish last in the Mountain West Conference, on Sept. 14.

The Big Ten season starts Sept. 21 with rival Iowa and the Hawkeyes’ annually stout defense. Do the Gophers keep Taylor on the sideline until then or give him some carries over the next two weeks?

Without Taylor, Marcus Major, a transfer from Oklahoma, averaged 3.6 yards per carry against North Carolina. He had a career-high 20 totes for 75 yards and one touchdown.

“I thought he ran really hard,” Fleck said of Major. “I think we got some really good tailbacks here. I’m really excited about the stable that we have, including getting Darius back. I feel really good about where we are at at that position.”

Jordan Nubin had two carries for three yards, while Ohio transfer Sieh Bangura, Michigan State transfer Jaren Mangham and true freshman Fame Ijeboi did not play. Fellow true freshman Jaydon Wright is out for the season.

Major, who proved to be the clear No. 2 tailback, impressed during training camp and said he had a week to prepare for a bigger role in the season opener. “I knew I had to come in and step up,” he said.

Major shared the offense was caught off-guard by varying fronts North Carolina’s defense presented, and the Gophers needed time to adjust. Minnesota managed only 22 yards on 11 carries in the first quarter, but were better with 44 yards on 11 carries in second quarter.

Major, who is listed at 6-foot and 220 pounds, scored his first Gopher touchdown from 5 yards out in the second quarter. “It felt wonderful,” he said. “Fans gave amazing energy. It felt amazing. They guys up front was moving the piles. It was good things for them.”

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