TCU defensive end Devonte Fields out for the season

TCU can't catch a break this season.

Following Wednesday's practice, TCU head coach Gary Patterson announced that defensive linemen Devonte Fields and Matt Anderson will miss the rest of the season. Since Fields played sparingly this season, he is eligible for a medical redshirt. Fields will have surgery as soon as possible to fix the issue in his foot.

"He just can't play hard and it's hard for him to handle something like this," Patterson said. "He deserves to get back to where he can play. He was great with (the decision). It's frustrating because he hasn't be able to play to the level that he can. So it's a win-win for us because it gives him three years of eligibility and getting bigger and stronger."

Patterson said that injury is more common on turf and he's never seen that injury on grass. He's not blaming the injury on Fields' lack of playing time in the first two games for the injury.

"Stansly's injury came on the turf at Baylor and (Devonte's) came at Texas Tech," Patterson said. "It's about them turning the corner."

The defense has played well so far this season without him thanks to the play of defensive linemen Mike Tuaua, Jon Lewis and Terrell Lathan. But Patterson said this decision wasn't made because of their success.

"His two replacements had two sacks last week," Patterson said.