Texas A&M is dangerously-thin at the linebacker position, especially after Ikenna Okeke went out with a season-ending injury in fall camp. The Aggies were also without sophomore Anthony Hines, a projected starter, in the first game of the season against Northwestern State.

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound defender was able to return against No. 2 Clemson this past weekend. However, late in the fourth quarter, Hines went out with an apparent injury.

The extent of that was unknown, though, until head coach Jimbo Fisher took to the SEC Coaches teleconference on Wednesday. He gave a report that Aggie fans definitely did not want to hear.

"Anthony will be out for the rest of the year," Fisher said of his starting linebacker. "He re-injured a lower-body extremity and he'll be out for the rest of the year."

In the play below, you can see Hines (No. 19) on the nearside of the field pull up without any contact, from the looks of it.

Hines was A&M's highest-rated signee in the class of 2017 out of Plano (Texas) East and saw action in every game as a true freshman a year ago, finishing with 33 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks and a forced fumble. With the new rule allowing action in up to four games while still maintaining redshirt eligibility, Hines will be able to use this season as a redshirt year and return next season as a third-year sophomore.

After Fisher announced the injury, Hines took to Twitter with a message, saying, "Gods Plan !! Looking forward to supporting my team all season!! Soo thankful to have the support system I have! TAMU truly is a special place. 2019 is my year."

Texas A&M has fellow starting linebackers Otaro Alaka and Tyrel Dodson still in action and Buddy Johnson, who started a few games a year ago, will likely step into the starting role vacated by Hines.

Fisher also gave an update on projected starting defensive end Micheal Clemons, who was injured in fall camp and has yet to play.

"Healing very well," the head coach said of the junior defensive lineman. "We're on a day-by-day basis."

Texas A&M hosts Louisiana-Monroe this coming Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Central on the SEC Network. The next week, the Aggies will face an even bigger test than they did this past weekend as they head on the road to Tuscaloosa to face No. 1 Alabama. Depth will likely be more of a concern in that contest, so you can bet that defensive coordinator Mike Elko and linebackers coach Bradley Dale Peveto work on a number of different looks during the ULM game. When Hines and Ikekke were both ruled out at the end of camp, A&M said that safety Larry Pryor would work at linebacker as well. There's a chance some of the other safeties move down into the box while a walk-on like Keeath Magee II is likely to see some action too.