Jake Fischer is taken off the field Saturday after suffering an injury to his right knee. Photo by David Kadlubowski/The Arizona Republic
The Arizona athletic department confirmed Wednesday morning that starting linebacker Jake Fischer suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during Saturday’s spring game and will soon undergo surgery.
Fischer, a junior, will be out six to eight months, according to Arizona.
Fischer, from Ironwood Ridge High School, has a redshirt year available. He played as a backup and on special teams as a true freshman in 2009 before becoming a starter in 2010. He was fourth on the team last season with 58 tackles, including 7.5 for loss and two sacks.
This is the third ACL injury of the spring for Arizona. Backup running back Greg Nwoko and starting safety Adam Hall already have had surgery and have started rehab.
It’s also a blow to a thin linebacker corps, because top backups R.J. Young and Trevor Erno left the team in the offseason. Starters Paul Vassallo and Derek Earls return.
Coaches say a trio of incoming freshmen — Rob Hankins, Hank Hobson and Domonique Petties — will have to be ready to play. Bilal Muhammed, who walked-on last fall, had a solid spring, according to coaches.