OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi linebacker Denzel Nkemdiche is out for the season after breaking his ankle in Saturday’s 10-7 loss to LSU.

Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze confirmed the injury on Monday, saying Nkemdiche had surgery on Sunday. The 5-foot-11, 212-pound junior preseason All-Southeastern Conference selection and had 28 tackles through seven games this season.

No. 7 Ole Miss (7-1, 4-1 SEC) hosts No. 4 Auburn (6-1, 3-1) on Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The Rebels are giving up just 10.5 points per game, which is the lowest amount in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Freeze said that other Ole Miss players who were hurt during the LSU game — including offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche and safety Cody Prewitt — are expected to return for the Auburn game.

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