Sun Devils lose another starter to injury

Published Sep. 20, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Arizona State starting defensive end Junior Onyeali is expected to miss at least six weeks due to torn knee cartilage.

Onyeali, the Pac-12 defensive freshman of the year last season, was injured in the first quarter of the Sun Devils' 17-14 loss at Illinois on Saturday.

Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson said Onyeali will have surgery on Thursday after an MRI revealed a torn meniscus. Onyeali could be out for the season if the damage is extensive enough.

The Sun Devils have already been hit hard by injuries, losing cornerback Omar Bolden and receiver T.J. Simpson to torn ACLs in the spring, and linebacker Brandon Magee to a torn Achilles tendon in the preseason.