Missouri Tiger long snapper Beau Brinkley and linebacker Will Ebner, both arrested for DWI before the season, are not on the depth chart again this week against McNeese State. That will leave the Tigers a little light at linebacker.

With a season ending injury to Donovan Bonner this offseason, and the absence of Ebner, the team was relying on experienced play of Andrew Gachkar and Luke Lambert. However, Lambert pulled his left hamstring and is out for sure in this game against McNeese State and will be a game-by-game decision after that. Now, the Tigers are without three of their top six linebackers.

Free safety and kick returner Jasper Simmons injured his knee and will have surgery today. Simmons hurt himself on his interception of Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase in the second quarter. Simmons finished the game, but will have meniscus surgery today and will miss a week or two. Jerrell Harrison will start in place of Simmons this week.

The Missouri Tigers, already without their top tailback from last season, had a little bit of concern when sophomore Kendial Lawrence left Illlinois’ game with a shoulder injury. He rushed for just 20 yards, but De’Vion Moore carried 16 times for 82 yards. Moore has been bothered by a bad toe this fall, but didn’t show any ill effects and coach Gary Pinkel expects Lawrence to play this week.

Who is McNeese State:

Nickname:  Cowboys
Located:  Lake Charles, LA
Conference:  Southland Conference
National Ranking in FCS:  13th
Last week:  Won 30-27 over Lamar
Player to watch:  Freshman Marcus Wiltz. The 200 pound tailback rushed for 160 yards in his first game and averaged 6.2 yards per carry>
Keys stats:  The Cowboys went 9-3 and shared the conference title and made the FCS playoffs for the 14th time in 2009.