Arguably the best tight end in the SEC left the game in the second quarter after a serious hit on a pass over the middle.

Missouri TE Albert Okwuegbunam suffered what appeared to be a left knee injury against Vanderbilt when QB Kelly Bryant sailed a pass on second down and 8 at the Missouri 16-yard line. Okwuegbunam was injured with 7:56 left in the first half when S Tae Daley capsized him. Medical staff came on the field to help him off, and he went to the injury tent on the sideline.

It was an active sequence of plays for Okwuegbunam as he scored a Missouri touchdown a few minutes before on a drive highlighted by a 55-yard catch by Kam Scott. Bryant connected with him on a 4-yard touchdown that was a fade pass in the back corner of the end zone. But Okwuegbunam was then flagged for an unsportsmanlike penalty after he appeared to say something to the Vanderbilt defensive back he beat on the touchdown.

Okwuegbunam had his helmet on for the next Missouri possession, but was held out by staff. Okwuegbunam is a big part of the Missouri offense, which has largely struggled in the first half.