Maryland DE Quinton Jefferson out for season with knee injury

(John McDonnell/The Washington Post)

Maryland starting defensive end Quinton Jefferson will have season-ending surgery on his right knee on Friday, Randy Edsall said on Sunday.

Jefferson, a 6-foot-3, 285-pound junior who has become one of the key figures on Maryland’s front seven after starting all 13 games in 2013, missed Saturday’s 34-20 win over Syracuse. His absence caused Edsall to move nose tackle Keith Bowers over to defensive end, while true freshman David Shaw was moved into the rotation at nose tackle as a backup to Darius Kilgo.

Edsall also said Sunday that backup outside linebacker Cavon Walker will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his foot last week – and that tight end Andrew Isaacs will have an MRI exam Monday after dislocating his knee against Syracuse.

Jefferson and Walker are the latest casualties on a defense that has been banged up. The team’s four starting linebackers are all dealing with lingering injuries; starting outside linebacker Matt Robinson missed Saturday’s game and normal starters Yannik Cudjoe-Virgil (foot) and Cole Farrand (shoulder) were limited as backups because of injury.

Defensive back Alvin Hill also suffered an apparent leg injury during Saturday’s game against the Orange, emerging from the locker room on crutches after the game. Edsall didn’t comment on any injuries outside of Jefferson and Walker Sunday, and said the team will continue to evaluate personnel ahead of next week’s Big Ten opener at Indiana.