An already weak Auburn pass rush may be weaker as the Tigers head to Tuscaloosa on Saturday.

Defensive end DaVonte Lambert left the game against Samford on Saturday night on the defense’s first play of the game. The team leader in sacks suffered an injury to his left knee.

Details of the injury haven’t been disclosed yet, reports AL.com, but at this point, Lambert is expected to miss this week’s game against Alabama.

“I don’t know the details on all the stuff on the medical thing,” defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson told reporters on Sunday. “Gus [Malzahn] will have to tell you on Tuesday. He’s probably out this week, we don’t know for sure.”

Lambert has produced more than any player at defensive end. His 3.5 sacks are a team-high. In addition, Lambert has recorded 24 tackles and seven tackles-for-loss.

The junior averages 40 snaps per game, and if he can’t go against the Crimson Tide, that leaves Johnson fishing for options for a suddenly-thin defensive line.

Elijah Daniel played in place of Lambert on Saturday night, as did freshman Raashed Kennion.

“Kennion came in the other night and got almost basically his baptism as far as getting to play some,” Johnson said. “Whether he’ll be up for this or not, I don’t know.”

Jeff Whitaker has missed the last two games at defensive tackle, leaving Gabe Wright to pick up some snaps on the interior. If Lambert can’t go, that could leave Wright playing at both end and tackle.

“We’ve had Gabe and Montravius out there before,” Johnson said. “If Pee Wee (Lambert) can’t go, then we’ll probably have to probably double-work Gabe at tackle and at end and be prepared for that rotation.”