Two likely starters on the Missouri Tigers' offensive line are out indefinitely just a week into fall practices. Senior guard Travis Ruth, who started seven games in 2011, will undergo surgery for a torn left triceps tendon. Backup tackle Taylor Chappell tore his left ACL on Tuesday, and will likely miss the 2012 season. Chappell had been practicing with the starting offensive line as starter Justin Britt recovers from a broken foot.
While both injuries are severe, according to Dave Matter of the Columbia Tribune, neither has technically been labeled as season-ending by the team:
Moller said team trainer Rex Sharp is not declaring either injury as season-ending, but there is no specific timetable for their return. Ruth redshirted in 2008 while recovering from foot surgery and would be eligible to apply for a sixth year of eligibility if he misses the season and wishes to extend his career.
So far the Tigers have inserted a freshman and a junior walk-on in the place of Ruth and Chappell.
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