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Auburn defensive back Jermaine Whitehead breaks away from Arkansas tight end AJ Derby to score a third-quarter touchdown on an interception at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014. (Mark Almond/malmond@al.com)

MANHATTAN, Kansas -- Auburn safety Jermaine Whitehead did not travel with the team Wednesday afternoon and will miss the Tigers' nationally-ranked showdown at Kansas State, a school spokesman confirmed.

The senior is Auburn's most experienced defensive back and leads the team with two interceptions, and has played a team-high 122 snaps on defense. He returned one of his interceptions 33 yards for a touchdown in the season opener against Arkansas.

AuburnUndercover.com reports, through "knowledgeable sources," Whitehead got into a verbal altercation with a coach and was subsequently suspended.

Whitehead's status beyond this week is uncertain, according to a source.

No. 5 Auburn kicks off against No. 20 Kansas State Thursday at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN.

Whitehead's absence leaves a big hole at free safety, where the senior provided the Tigers a steady enforcer in both pass and run defense as one of the best open-field tacklers on the team.

"He's had two really good games," defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson said Sept. 7. "He's obviously the old man back there who can keep things settled down, and he's got to be 100 percent for us. We've got young safeties playing beside him who need help every now and then."

Whitehead's absence is especially concerning for Auburn before its first road test of the season. Kansas State quarterback Jake Waters leads the Big 12 in passes of 15 yards or longer with a completion percentage of 66.7 percent, according to ESPN.

Freshman Stephen Roberts is listed as Whitehead's backup on Auburn's depth chart, but it's possible cornerback Josh Holsey could move to free safety after playing in the boundary last season. Freshman cornerback Kalvaraz Bessent was expected to travel with the team to Kansas State as well.

Roberts has played only 16 defensive snaps this season -- all in the fourth quarter of Auburn's 59-13 victory against San Jose State on Sept. 6.

Holsey's role against Kansas State could be interesting. He has played a variety of roles for the Tigers so far, logging 39 snaps at cornerback, 18 at Dime back and seven at middle safety in Auburn's 3-3-5 formation.

Newcomer Derrick Moncrief, who has primarily served as Rudy Ford's backup at boundary safety, could move to field safety if needed, too.

Whitehead started all 14 games last season at free safety, where he was fourth on the team with 65 tackles.