Columbia, Mo. ? When Gary Pinkel watched the videotape showing how his standout defensive end was lost for the season, he couldn’t believe it.

Brian Smith, whose 71â2 sacks rank third in the Big 12, was blocking on a David Overstreet fumble return for a touchdown in the third quarter of the Tigers’ 41-21 victory over Kansas State on Saturday. Smith planted his right foot in the Faurot Field turf and ended up with a season-ending hip fracture.

The injury will not require surgery. Smith will be on crutches for six to eight weeks, though he could return in time for a bowl game, and in time for postseason all-star games.

“I mean, there’s no way in the world he could have gotten hurt doing that,” Pinkel said. “He probably went to more dances where he got hit harder than that.”

But now, No. 23 Missouri (7-1, 3-1 Big 12) enters today’s game against No. 19 Oklahoma (5-2, 2-1) without its all-time sack leader.

Missouri linebacker Marcus Bacon called Smith’s injury a fluke. He said Smith “was in front of me to the side wrestling with a guy, pushing and shoving, and then his foot planted in the turf the wrong way and his hip popped. Just a really sad story.”

Fortunately for Pinkel, the line is the deepest unit of Missouri’s defense. Still, the injury led to a lot of shuffling on the depth chart.

Taking Smith’s place will be sophomore Stryker Sulak, who was previously listed as Xzavie Jackson’s backup at the other end position. Tommy Chavis moved from behind Smith to behind Jackson and DeMarcus Scott, who started the last two games at defensive tackle, is now Sulak’s backup.

Evander Hood will start at defensive tackle for the first time since the New Mexico game on Sept. 16.

“Of course this was a big loss for us,” Sulak said of Smith’s injury. “We just have to step it up. Hopefully, he will be able to bounce back from it.”