This season the Cougars will have to play without a key player and leader on the team: linebacker Keith Brown.

Yesterday afternoon, via Instagram, the redshirt senior announced that he would undergo surgery on his arm. The specifics of which arm and the overall injury are still unknown. The surgery is expected to sit Brown out for the entire season, forcing WSU to find a replacement for him just two weeks before their season-opener against Idaho.

Last year, Brown transferred to WSU as a redshirt junior from Louisville, and had some success in his first season with the Cougs although he did not receive much playing time at the beginning of the season. In the 13 games he played, he recorded 26 tackles with 2.5 of them being for losses.

Brown was expected to make a big jump this season, most likely as a starter, after receiving first-team reps during both spring and fall camp in the offseason. He is expected to receive a medical redshirt and play out his sixth season in 2026.

As for WSU, a possible replacement for Brown could be redshirt freshman linebacker Anthony Palano, who has received first-team reps recently during practices. Palano was one of 16 South Dakota State players new Head Coach Jimmy Rogers brought with him to WSU.

This could mean WSU would have Palano playing with who will likely be the two starting linebackers: veterans Caleb Francl and Parker McKenna. 

This could rupture some continuity new Defensive Coordinator Jesse Bobbit had with his linebackers. But, similar to Palano, Bobbit is coming from South Dakota State. Therefore, Palano being the replacement could be a relatively smooth transition.

Nonetheless, replacing Brown may prove difficult, especially as he was expected to be one of the key leaders on the team and a standout linebacker. His leadership and knowledge of the game will still be relayed onto the team and linebacker corps, which would support some other linebackers on the team to step up in his absence.