PISCATAWAY − Rutgers football will be without one of its biggest defensive weapons for the upcoming season.

Coach Greg Schiano announced Tuesday that linebacker Mohamed Toure is out for the season with a torn ACL, a tough break for the Scarlet Knights on the cusp of what could be a breakout year that begins Aug. 29 against Howard at SHI Stadium.

"It's sad," Schiano said. "He put so much work into getting ready for the year. But that's the game of football unfortunately. There's things that happen. As a family we've surrounded him, we're supporting him, we will help him through the rehab and get him back and get him reaching his goals and aspirations."

It's a brutal blow for Toure, a Pleasantville native who also missed the 2022 season because of the same injury that he suffered in spring practices.

Toure last season played in all 13 games with eight starts. He had 93 tackles (9.5 for loss) with 4.5 sacks.

He will have the option to return next season if he chooses to.

"It's next man up at linebacker," Schiano said. "We're fortunate we have some good depth at the position. Those guys will be ready to play (next) Thursday."

Rutgers has been beaten up at linebacker since last season, when Tyreem Powell suffered a broken hand in the Indiana game and missed the final five games of the season. He then tore his Achilles after returning to winter workouts.

Powell's status for the opener is uncertain.

"We're going to see with Tyreem what he's able to do," Schiano said. "I'm not going to rush that."

This could be a big opportunity for young linebackers Moses Walker, Dariel Djabome and Abram Wright. Schiano said following the team's scrimmage on Aug. 10 that Walker and Djabome were working with the starters because Powell and Toure were "recovering."

Schiano said Tuesday that Wright has "done a really good job," and also said Timmy Hinspeter, a Don Bosco Prep grad entering his third season, has "really matured and become a good linebacker."

"We have some depth at the position, thank God," Schiano said. "But it's going to get challenged now, for sure."

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Rutgers football: Mohamed Toure out for season with torn ACL