MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said starting wide receiver Jaylon Denson is out for the season.
Denson is the latest casualty in a string of early-season injuries for the Tigers, who have an open date before playing No. 21 Mississippi.
"That was a pretty tough injury, and that's a big blow for our offense," Malzahn said Wednesday. "He was our most consistent guy. It's going to have to be by committee from here on out.
"It's good that we have an off-week that we can start working some guys. Right now we're rotating a whole bunch of guys."
Denson has posted on Twitter that he sustained a torn patellar tendon and had surgery on Tuesday.
He has started all four games and had three catches for 45 yards, but also was one of the Tigers' top downfield blockers.
Malzahn said the biggest benefit of the open date is time to get injured players healthy.
Seven players have missed a total of 15 games, including five who were listed as potential starters on the preseason depth chart. Defensive tackle Jeff Whitaker hasn't played this season with an unspecified leg injury.
"I don't think I've been around a team that had that many this early," Malzahn said. "And to main impact players. Especially defensively we've been playing without a lot of impact players. Even when we get them back, they're not quite 100 percent yet but they're getting there.
"Then to lose a guy like Jaylon Denson is a huge blow. But it creates opportunities for other people, and the good thing for the future is we're playing a whole bunch of young guys and that can do nothing but help us for the future."
