photo by: AP Photo/Colin E Braley

Oklahoma running back Tawee Walker (29) is tackled by Kansas linebacker Cornell Wheeler (44) after a 8-yard gain during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023 in Lawrence.

After suffering an injury in the final minutes of Kansas’ loss to West Virginia on Saturday, starting middle linebacker Cornell Wheeler missed practice on Monday, head coach Lance Leipold said.

“We’ll see where it progresses with him,” Leipold said.

During West Virginia’s penultimate drive, safety Devin Dye tackled WVU tight end Kole Taylor on a third-down reception and Wheeler’s leg bent awkwardly underneath Taylor as both players went to the ground.

Wheeler spent some time on the field getting attention from training staff before walking off with a slight limp — only to make his way back onto the field by the end of the series.

“He got hurt, he went back in, and then we took him back out,” Leipold said.

Leipold pointed out that a lot of players are in some way limited during Monday practices. But if Wheeler’s not able to go in KU’s next game — Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, against TCU — it would be a significant loss for the Jayhawks’ front.

Though he is seeing his first extended action as a starter, Wheeler is already KU’s leading tackler thus far this year with 24 stops, including three for loss, and he also has a forced fumble and three pass breakups.

In addition, Wheeler is a team captain on defense. Not only does he receive in-helmet communication from defensive coordinator Brian Borland, he also plays a key role in helping to get the defense in order. After the loss at WVU, cornerback Cobee Bryant said the defense became “lackadaisical” and didn’t always know what was going on when Wheeler was off the field.

Leipold said that if Wheeler is unable to go, Taiwan Berryhill Jr. and JB Brown would be in line to take over Wheeler’s role.

“(Linebackers coach) Chris Simpson, he cross-trains all of those guys,” Leipold said. “It’ll be those two guys who take the lion’s share of it.”

Both primarily play the role of weak-side linebacker, and thus far this year Brown has out-snapped Berryhill 165 to 111, according to Pro Football Focus; in addition, Brown has been PFF’s highest-graded KU defender thus far this season, with a mark of 80.5. On Saturday he delivered a key quarterback hit that allowed Mello Dotson to intercept WVU quarterback Garrett Greene, and he has 18 tackles with one sack on the year.

If those two see additional time it could also result in an elevated role for backup Tristian Fletcher, who has played just two snaps on defense in the past three games.

Wheeler’s injury comes as KU is already somewhat depleted at linebacker. Jayson Gilliom, who plays KU’s hybrid Hawk linebacker position, has missed the last two games due to a leg injury of his own. Alex Raich has filled in for him sporadically against certain offensive packages.