Update (4:45 p.m.): AUBURN, Alabama — Auburn receiver Will Hastings underwent surgery on an injured knee to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament this week, a person familiar with the procedure tells Auburn Undercover.

Auburn Undercover was the first to report that Hastings injured a knee during Auburn's first major scrimmage of the spring Saturday. The extent of the injury was suspected to be severe, but now surgery confirms it. It's possible Hastings could miss the entire 2018 season.

Auburn returns to the practice field Thursday afternoon. Four players are out with major injuries: receiver Eli Stove and Hastings; defensive lineman Daquan Newkirk; and center Nick Brahms. Stove also tore an ACL, though coaches are hopeful he will return at some point during the 2018 season.

Hastings suffered a knee injury during Auburn's scrimmage Saturday and as rumors continued to swirl about the extent of the injury, Hastings did not attend practice Tuesday as a spectator, a source told Auburn Undercover. Injured players typically attend practice and watch from the sideline, including receiver Eli Stove, who tore an anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and had surgery March 13.

Hastings was scheduled to travel to the Andrews Institute in Gulf Breeze, Florida to be evaluated but it's not clear if that has happened yet. Two sources told Auburn Undercover the injury involves ligament damage, which could lead to him missing the 2018 season.

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn would not comment on the injury when asked by Auburn Undercover on Saturday and multiple attempts seeking clarification from Auburn's athletics department have not been answered over the last two days.

Auburn closed practice Tuesday and no interviews were scheduled with the media.

The former walk-on kicker moved to receiver and became on of Auburn’s primary targets in 2017. He caught 26 passes for 525 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 20.2 yards per catch last season.

Hastings was a record-breaking receiver as a high school player in Arkansas, where he developed into one of the best players in that state’s history. He caught 113 passes for 2,040 yards and 23 touchdowns at Pulaski Academy to become only the second player in state history to eclipse 2,000 yards receiving on the high school level.

Hastings quickly jumped up the depth chart as a role player and later a starter at Auburn, where players affectionally refer to the fast receiver as “White Lightning.” He holds several of the team’s best times in agility drills during the offseason.

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