In a major blow to what was expected to be a strong defensive line, the Rams have lost starting end Dominique Easley for the season with a torn ACL.

The diagnosis, first reported by ESPN on Wednesday, came after Tuesday’s practice at UC Irvine, in which Easley suffered the injury during an 11-on-11 drill and had to leave the field on a cart, unable to put weight on his leg. Easley underwent a MRI on Tuesday evening.

The news is particularly bad for the Rams given that their other defensive end, star Aaron Donald, has not reported to training camp as his agent attempts to negotiate a new contract with the team.

For now, on either side of nose tackle Michael Brockers in their new 3-4 scheme, the Rams presumably will go with Ethan Westbrooks, who has been expected to be a key reserve, and Louis Trinca-Pasat, who missed the 2016 season with a torn ACL and MCL.

Trinca-Pasat, signed by the Rams in 2015 as an undrafted free agent out of Iowa, has yet to appear in a NFL game.

This is another blow for Easley, the former first-round pick of New England who suffered ACL tears in college in 2011 and 2013.

The Rams signed Easley after the 2015 season, and last year he played all 16 games as a reserve and finished with 35 tackles, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

Rams receiver Tavon Austin also suffered a leg injury during Tuesday’s practice, although Coach Sean McVay initially believed Austin’s injury to be less severe, and perhaps only a “tissue issue.”