During Mario Cristobal's monday press conference, the Oregon head coach announced that the Ducks will be without a starting linebacker for the remainder of the season. The Ducks will be without linebacker Kaulana Apelu for the remainder of the regular season.

"He’s gonna be out for the remainder of the season. We expect him to be back for the bowl game." Cristobal added, "Injury not as severe as he had last year but in the same area, lower leg. You know, small fracture but enough where he’s going to be out for the remainder of the season."

Not being able to play, Cristobal added that Apelu will have to make an impact with his team on the sidelines. Throughout the season, Cristobal has called Apelu one of the key "heart and soul" players of this Oregon team.

"He’ll be right there with me at practice coaching. He’s the heart and soul, one of the many guys that are, together the heart and soul of the football team. His presence is necessary. He does a great job tutoring Sampson (Niu) and some of those other linebackers. He’ll be very active among our football team in any way we can involve him."

With Apelu unable to play in the final three games of the season, Oregon will turn to Keith Simms and Sampson Niu at the inside linebacker position. Cristobal was asked directly about those two players being the guys expected to fill in for Apelu.

"We do and they are the top options." Cristobal continued, "They’ve worked at it and now its, they’ve been tapped on the shoulder and it’s here and it’s time to go perform. The combination of, they have taken reps, the tutelage that they have received and they will be getting. Kaulana being in there as a mentor, another guy that can help them, just understand and see things."

As the Ducks prepare for Utah's offense, Oregon's coaching staff will make sure that Simms and Niu have a clear understanding of what they'll be asked to do.

"We’re gonna have those guys ready. The most important thing is to make sure they can be aggressive and play fast. Not let them think too much. Let them react, there’s a reason they’re inside linebackers, they’re instinctive. And we’ve got to make sure that there’s complete clarity for them in the game plan and understanding what the opponents doing so they can play fast."

We'll update this story...