CLEMSON – Clemson’s once-deep defensive line is beginning to resemble a triage unit. Clemson officials announced Thursday that junior defensive tackle Jamie Cumbie will miss the rest of the season following surgery to repair a broken left wrist.

Cumbie originally hurt the wrist in the Tigers’ loss to Alabama Saturday, but believed the injury was only a sprain. He apparently further injured the wrist in practice Tuesday. X-rays were taken on Wednesday, and Thursday it was determined that Cumbie needed surgery. It is his second hand injury of the season; Cumbie was already playing with a cast on his right hand after breaking it last month.

He played 39 snaps against Alabama and had three tackles playing behind starter Jarvis Jenkins, who was replacing senior Rashaad Jackson (out until midseason while recovering from surgery to repair a torn knee tendon).

Cumbie hasn’t redshirted yet and will be able to do so this season, with two years of eligibility remaining.

His injury will force true freshman defensive tackle Brandon Thompson into action; Clemson had hoped to redshirt him. He was rated the No.39 prospect in America by ESPN.com and one of Georgia’s top 10 prospects and one of the nation’s top nine defensive tackles by Rivals.com.

In addition, starting defensive end Ricky Sapp will miss Saturday’s game with what he told reporters was a burst bursa sac in his right knee – essentially a bad bruise which causes swelling. Andre Branch and Kourtnei Brown will take his place.

Also, walk-on wide receiver Terrence Ashe will miss the game with a sprained ankle and reserve cornerback Coty Sensabaugh is questionable with a shoulder injury.

Youth is served: Clemson’s offensive line will also have a younger, less experienced look Saturday. Redshirt freshman Mason Cloy will start at right guard for junior Barry Humphries, who will miss at least 4-6 weeks with ligament damage in his right knee.

And redshirt freshman David Smith will start at left guard in place of junior Jamarcus Grant, who was ineffective in his first career start last week. He missed several weeks of preseason practice with a dislocated right big toe, and has been working to catch Grant ever since from a mental standpoint.

“It’s not really that I’ve been trying to catch up from the toe, it’s just catching up from a mental standpoint,” he said. “Not being in the game for so long during camp, seeing it, not being able to do it. I’m starting to catch on now, doing it, learning it from the older guys and listening to them.”

Offensive line coach Brad Scott said working instead of watching has made a world of difference for Smith.

“It’s what we always say, reps, reps, reps, kids have got to get reps,” Scott said. “They’ve got to go out there physically and play and see it full speed. You can sit in a meeting with a hurt foot and understand it fine, but until you go through it and have to see things when you’re operating and full speed, make reactions and catch movements, that’s time (you need).”