Erik Bacharach | Daily News Journal

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HELEN COMER/DNJ

MTSU wide receiver Richie James will miss the remainder of the season with a broken collarbone, MTSU coach Rick Stockstill told USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee on Tuesday.

James, a 5-foot-9 junior and the program’s all-time leader in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, suffered the injury in a game against Marshall on Oct. 21. He will not require surgery.

“Obviously,” Stockstill said, “he’s very disappointed.”

On a third-quarter post route in MTSU’s game against Marshall, James dropped a pass over the middle and was slow to get up. He was even slower to get up after the next play. James was then escorted to the training room and did not return.

He had missed three games earlier this season with a high-ankle sprain.

“We’ve played an awful lot without him already,” Stockstill said. “Ty (Lee) and Shane (Tucker), those guys are going to have to step up. They’ll get more reps, more snaps during the game now because you lost a guy in the rotation. But it’s got to be a collective effort. One guy isn’t going to replace Richie’s production."

The setback is the latest in an MTSU season that has been undone by mounting injuries. The Blue Raiders are 3-5 overall and 1-3 in C-USA, their worst start to conference play since 2011.

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“It’s just been one of those years,” Stockstill said. “Everyone’s been hurt.