COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri linebacker Khalil Jacobs and defensive end Joe Moore III will both miss the rest of the 2024 season with injuries, coach Eli Drinkwitz said Tuesday.
The losses of two established rotational defensive players will further test the Tigers’ depth on that side of the ball.
Jacobs, who transferred in over the offseason from South Alabama on the heels of the hiring of defensive coordinator Corey Batoon from that school, has played 139 defensive snaps so far this season, appearing in every game.
Jacobs’ athleticism made him a natural fit in Mizzou’s third-down packages. As a blitzer, he registered two sacks and five total pressures on opposing quarterbacks.
On the depth chart, Jacobs fell behind Triston Newson at the outside linebacker position. Newson missed MU’s last game with an injury but is expected to return for Saturday’s game against Auburn, Drinkwitz said.
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Newson’s absence and Jacobs leaving the Tigers’ game at Massachusetts in the third quarter gave freshman Nicholas Rodriguez an expanded role. Rodriguez and second-year linebacker Brayshawn Littlejohn are among those most likely to see more action.
With Newson wearing a non-contact jersey at Tuesday’s practice, Rodriguez took some reps with the MU starters.
Wide receiver Luther Burden III, who left Saturday’s game with a shoulder injury, was also wearing a non-contact jersey at practice but is expected to play this weekend.
Moore had played 74 snaps this season before his injury, which kept him out of the UMass game. In the “joker†defensive end role behind starter Johnny Walker Jr., he’d produced six pressures this season.
Five-star freshman Williams Nwaneri saw more action with Moore out against the Minutemen and may wind up burning his redshirt if needed to continue filling in there. Second-year defensive end Jahkai Lang is also a candidate for added snaps.
But at Tuesday’s practice, Nwaneri was wearing the usual practice garb of scout team players — who are often redshirting or not appearing in games — which may be an indication that he’s not in line for an immediate promotion and Lang will instead get the nod.
Moore’s injury further depletes Missouri’s depth at defensive end — the Tigers lost Georgia transfer Darris Smith to a season-ending injury during preseason camp.