AIR FORCE ACADEMY — Coming off a 35-19 loss to Texas Christian, Air Force now has to deal with the loss of two injured defensive starters for the bulk of the season.
Outside linebacker Patrick Hennessey and nose guard Ryan Gardner suffered injuries Saturday against the Horned Frogs that will keep them out for eight to 10 weeks, Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said.
Hennessey broke a bone near the base of his thumb and had surgery Monday to insert a screw. Gardner injured the medial collateral ligament in his right knee.
Calhoun said the Falcons’ defense will be affected because the injuries disrupt continuity. Gardner and Hennessey are senior returning starters.
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“We’ll work through it, and we’re going to have to,” said Calhoun, whose team is 1-1. “Somebody else is going to have to get in there and go have at it, which they will.”
Jamil Cooks is the likely replacement for Hennessey. He made one of Air Force’s best plays against TCU, sacking quarterback Casey Pachall, stripping the ball from him and recovering the fumble on the same play. That led to a field goal. Juniors Cody Miller and Nick DeJulio are among the candidates to replace Gardner.
A year ago, key defensive contributors such as Gardner, safety Brian Lindsay and defensive linemen Zach Payne and Ben Kopacka missed significant playing time.
“We worked through it last year too,” Calhoun said.
The Falcons will miss their two injured defensive starters, but they won’t dwell on it.
“It hurts us, but we do have a lot of depth,” Lindsay said. “We’ll move a couple guys around. We have more than enough talent to hopefully make up for it. You can’t replace those guys, but you can fill their spot.”
Senior quarterback Tim Jefferson had precautionary X-rays for an injured forearm, but he is fine and was back at practice.
The Falcons are trying to put the loss to TCU behind them during this bye week. Air Force’s next game is Sept. 24 against Tennessee State at Falcon Stadium.
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