How long will Colin Simmons be out? The latest injury update for Texas' pass rusher

How long will Colin Simmons be out? The latest injury update for Texas' pass rusher originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Texas Longhorns suffered a significant blow to its defense on Saturday. Colin Simmons went down with an ankle injury against Florida early in the fourth quarter.

We now know how long Simmons will be sidelined. According to Longhorn insider Anwar Richardson, Texas' star pass rusher is expected to miss three to four weeks with a high ankle sprain.

Simmons underwent an MRI on Monday that revealed no structural damage. That's the best news for head coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff. The goal is now to get him healthy and back on the field as soon as possible.

Simmons' injury isn't the only concern for Texas. Hollywood Smothers is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and his status for Saturday’s game against Ole Miss is questionable. Like Simmons, having Smothers in the lineup is key for the Longhorns in SEC play.

Texas suffered a second straight loss this season to Florida on Saturday. The two SEC teams were locked in a hard-fought battle when Simmons went down. The Gators went on to pull out a 27-24 win.

Entering Week 8, Simmons leads the nation with 10.5 sacks through six games. His remarkable production has pushed his name up NFL draft boards. He's one of a few players who could be the No. 1 overall pick next April.

Simmons' ability to consistently disrupt quarterbacks has been a major factor in Texas' defensive success. Beyond his individual statistics, Simmons' relentless pass rush allows Texas to play more aggressively in coverage, knowing opposing quarterbacks have limited time to find open receivers downfield.

No doubt this will be a major storyline for Texas moving forward. The Longhorns face ranked teams in three out of the next four games. They'll host No. 7 Ole Miss on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

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