Stanford will get quarterback K.J. Costello back this week but it also lost the cornerstone to its offensive line when tackle Walker Little was declared out for the season.

Coach David Shaw confirmed Tuesday Costello will return when the Cardinal travels to Florida to face 17th-ranked UCF on Saturday.

Shaw on this week's personnel updates: "K.J. Costello will be back this week. Walker Little will have season-ending surgery. Ricky Miezan will be out for an extended period of time. Foster Sarell and Jacob Mangum-Farrar are doubtful."#GoStanford — Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) September 10, 2019

The 6-foot-5 senior, a second-team All-Pac-12 pick last year, suffered a scary head injury in the season-opening win over Northwestern when he took a forearm to the head while sliding. Costello missed Saturday’s game as redshirt sophomore Davis Mills took over and played well, despite the nightmarish 45-20 loss to USC.

After passing for the second-most yards in school history last year (3,540 yards), Costello seemingly picked up where he left off by completing 16-of-20 passes for 152 yards before leaving with the injury against Northwestern.

When he returns Saturday, Costello won’t have the security of Little protecting his left side against UCF as the 6-foot-7, 304-pound junior will undergo season-ending surgery on his left knee.

Little, who was projected to be a first-round pick if he left for the NFL after this season, was hurt near the end of the Northwestern game two weeks ago. Before Shaw’s announcement Tuesday, there was hope Little might return by mid-season.

Shaw also said the Cardinal will be without inside linebacker Ricky Miezan for “an extended period of time.”