Report: Rutgers linebacker Tyreem Powell out for opener vs. Howard

Rutgers will be without starting linebacker Tyreem Powell for Thursday’s game against Howard, according to a report from Pete Thamel.

Powell was able to warm up for the contest but he will not be able to play as he continues to recover from an Achilles injury, Thamel reports.

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“Sources: Rutgers star linebacker Tyreem Powell will not play against Howard tonight,” Thamel posted on Twitter. “He warmed up, but will miss the game as he continues to recover from an Achilles injury. That leaves Rutgers without both starting linebackers, as Mo Toure is out for the year.”

Tyreem Powell appeared in eight games for the Scarlet Knights last season, making seven starts. He finished the year with 53 tackles, two sacks, two pass breakups and a forced fumble.

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Powell started all 12 games at linebacker in 2022 and recorded 71 tackles, six tackles for loss and three sacks. He was also a key contributor as a redshirt freshman in 2021, playing in all 13 games and making three starts.

As Thamel said, Powell is the second key member of the Rutgers linebacker corps out for Thursday’s game, joining senior captain Mo Toure. News broke earlier this month that Toure is out for the year.

Toure was recently named to the Butkus Award watch list after earning fourth-team All-Big Ten honors in 2023.

The sixth-year senior originally signed with Rutgers as a three-star linebacker in the class of 2019. Toure redshirted that season before becoming a key contributor for the Scarlet Knights in 2020.

During his second year at Rutgers, Toure played in all nine games and led the team with 4.5 sacks. He then moved to the defensive line in 2021, playing in all 13 games, with five starts. He recorded 52 tackles, 8 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

After missing all of the 2022 season with an injury, Toure had another strong year in 2023, playing in all 13 games and making eight starts. He was named a semifinalist for the Comeback Player of the Year Award after leading the team with 9.5 tackles and 4.5 sacks.

Mo Toure was expected to be a huge part of the Rutgers defense this fall. Unfortunately that won’t be the case now following his injury.