Auburn cornerback T.J. Davis tore his ACL prior to the team’s spring break, head coach Gus Malzahn revealed Tuesday.

The Tigers practiced for the first time since March 19, and did so without Davis, who already has had surgery.

Davis, 6-foot-1 and 196 pounds, played in 24 games the last two seasons as a redshirt freshman and sophomore, mostly as a fourth cornerback.

The secondary seems like the position with the most left for new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp to sort through, and Davis’ injury won’t help.

Auburn hasn’t ruled out a return during the 2015 season, but defensive end Carl Lawson tore his ACL just a few weeks later in the calendar last year and still is limited at practice this spring. It seems unlikely that Davis will return, and he’ll have one year of eligibility remaining regardless.

Davis was among a group of players competing for the spot opposite Jonathan Jones, the one vacated by Jonathon Mincy. Stephen Roberts, another little-used backup, remains an option. Auburn also has given Johnathan “Rudy” Ford, who played safety last season, some practice reps at corner.