Report: Texas LB Steve Edmond could miss multiple games with injury

After suffering an injury against the Oklahoma Sooners last weekend, Texas Longhorns senior linebacker Steve Edmond could miss up to three games as a result, according to a report from Inside Texas.

The 6'2, 260-pounder has played some of his best football in a Texas uniform over recent weeks, including a 19-tackle game against Baylor. He currently ranks second on the team with 65 tackles and has 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and one forced fumble.

Since Iowa State runs a spread offense under new offensive coordinator Mark Mangino, Texas should spend most of the game in the nickel package that requires only two linebackers. So who will start alongside senior Jordan Hicks this week if Edmond is out?

It could be junior Dalton Santos, who has been dinged up this season and has mostly been out of the rotation under the new coaching staff. Or it could be fellow junior Peter Jinkens, who starts in the base sets on the strong side for the Horns, but also hasn't seen much playing time.

The coaches could also opt to move redshirt freshman Naashon Hughes back to linebacker. He's been playing defensive end recently, starting against Oklahoma, and drew praise from head coach Charlie Strong and defensive coordinator Vance Bedford this week.

For a team that has been hit relatively hard by injuries this season in already losing three starters for the season, it would be a blow to the defense to lose Edmond for multiple games when he's finally starting to put everything together and the staff is learning how to properly deploy him to maximize his abilities and minimize his weaknesses.