UTEP football: Aaron Jones out for the year with ankle injury

Sean Kugler told reporters after Tuesday's practice that running back Aaron Jones will undergo surgery today on his ankle, and will be out for remainder of the season.

"He's having surgery today, and that will be the end of his season." Sean Kugler said after Tuesday's practice.

Jones was hurt on a second down run late in the second quarter with UTEP trying to milk to clock against Texas Tech.  After the play he was helped off the field, and into the locker room via a cart.

To supplement loss of Jones, UTEP has moved safety, and former running back LaQuintus Dowell to third on the running back depth chart, and coach Kugler acknowledged the Miner offensive game plan will now have to look different without its main offensive threat.

"It does have to change. Aaron Jones is a special back. We had a special player and we built quite a bit of our offense around that player."  Kugler said on Monday. "Now we don't have that player. It's going to have to be more of a team mentality when it comes to running the ball. We may have to throw the ball more than we normally do, which we are confident about with some of the weapons."

One silver lining is that Jones will be eligible for a medical red shirt..

"He'll get his red shirt back; he'll be a junior along with Devin Cockrell both those guys will be back and be juniors". Kugler said.

"Mentality wise we have to bounce back." Kugler added.

Kugler did not go into specifics on the actual injury, though reports are Jones has torn ligaments in his foot.

UTEP takes on NMSU this Saturday at 6 PM Mountain Time at Aggie Memorial