COLUMBIA - The University of Missouri football team was dealt a blow during Monday's morning practice when team captain and three-year starter Elvis Fisher collapsed at practice Monday.
The Associated Press reported Fisher screamed in pain and clutched at his left knee before he was helped off the field by two trainers.
The senior co-captain who had made 40 consecutive starts for the Tigers was hurt during a one-on-one pass blocking drill against defensive end Michael Sam.
The 6-foot-5, 295-pound Fisher has been honorable mention All-Big 12 the last two seasons.
But the injury could prove to be an opportunity for former Lebanon all-state football player Justin Britt, a 6-foot-5, 295-pound sophomore.
Britt said he was actually running with the second-team at left tackle to prepare for a potential injury when Fisher went down.
"Him (Fisher) being my big brother here, I was kind of scared for him and hoping it was alright and nothing major," Britt said.
Test concluded Fisher suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in his left knee. He was scheduled to have surgery today and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Entering his third season at MU after redshirting his freshman season in Columbia, Britt will replace Fisher at left tackle.
"It is not the way I wanted it, but it happens," Britt said. "I feel like I'm ready. Of course, I feel like I need more practice, and we all do, but I feel like I can do it and help the team as much as I can."
Britt opened camp as the Tigers' second string left guard behind senior Jayson Palmgren. Britt appeared in all 13 MU games last year, rotating in-and-out with Palmgren.
Last spring, Britt briefly moved to center as the coaches looked for a way to get him on the field (MU returns all of its linemen except for center Tim Barnes.
But after determining that Britt's future was at tackle, the MU coaching staff began running him at tackle, the position that he played as a prep in Lebanon.
Britt had an opportunity to play the position in the annual Black and Gold spring game.
"It (left tackle) was kind of fresh, all the assignments and stuff," Britt said. "But it is a lot different footwork."
Playing left tackle means there will be a lot of pressure on Britt to protect new quarterback James Franklin. But he said in some ways, starting fresh with a new quarterback will allow them to build chemistry over time.
Also new to the line is center Travis Ruth, of Jefferson City. Ruth, a junior, is fighting through a sore achilles, but is expected to replace Barnes at center.
"We get to build new chemistry (with Franklin)," Britt said. "Travis was snapping with him (with the second string last year) and he already has some chemistry with him.
"With me, I get to build chemistry with James because I'll be with him the next couple of years. It is that trust that me and him have to build - not saying that we don't have it already - but it is going to get stronger and stronger as he gains trust in me blocking for him, and I build trust in his throws and his ability to make plays."
Britt said things started well for him at left tackle in practice on Tuesday, but suffered an injury of his own as a defensive tackle landed on him and rolled his ankle. Britt said he expects to return to practice on Wednesday.
"It (starting at tackle) is a lot of pressure, but I feel like my team is behind me 100 percent and they know I can do it or they wouldn't have me out there," Britt said.
