Texas A&M offensive lineman ruled out for season after surgery

Aggie center Luke Matthews has undergone surgery that will sideline him for the rest of the year, according to Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher.

The junior offensive lineman has been battling a right shoulder injury for weeks. The team decided to go ahead with surgery, ending his 2021 season entirely. Matthews was able to play sparingly, including versus Kent State in the season opener, but has been mostly day-to-day all season.

True freshman and former five-star prospect out of Katy (Texas) High Bryce Foster has been filling in for Matthews. The Aggies go into Week 6 with a 3-2 record, including losses to Arkansas and Mississippi State.

Luke Matthews, a former four-star prospect out of Missouri City (Texas) Elkins High School, redshirted his first season at Texas A&M. He contributed in 11 games in 2019, mostly on special teams, before another injury benched him in 2020.

The 6-foot-4, 310-pound offensive lineman has Aggie football ties running through his family. Luke’s brothers Kevin, Jake and Mike all played for Texas A&M. Jake Matthews was a first-round draft pick by the Atlanta Falcons in 2014. Luke’s father Bruce played 19 seasons in the NFL, retiring in 2001.

Aggies prepare for Crimson Tide

Billed the hottest game of Week 6 – before the last five weeks unfolded – Texas A&M versus Alabama goes down on Saturday.

Texas A&M is no longer ranked in the coaches’ poll or AP poll through five games after starting the year at No. 8. Alabama has kept a steady vice grip on the No. 1 spot.

Jimbo Fisher’s scoring defense is second in the SEC, averaging 12.6 points allowed per game. However, the offense is putting up just 23.4 points per game. Only South Carolina and Vanderbilt are scoring less than the Aggies right now.

Sophomore quarterback Zach Calzada has a 53.9 completion percentage and a 5:4 touchdown-interception ratio. Calzada is filling in for injured starter Haynes King.

There’s no indication that the Aggies will be able to keep up with Alabama’s offense, averaging 45.6 points per game, on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET at Kyle Field in College Station.