Louisville OL Renato Brown Out For Remainder of Season

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - On top of suffering their first loss of the season at Pitt, the Louisville football program lost a key piece of their offensive line in the process.

Starting offensive guard Renato Brown will miss the remainder of the 2023 season due to a knee injury suffered prior to the game against the Panthers on Oct. 14, head coach Jeff Brohm announced Monday.

During pre-game warmups, which took place during a steady rainfall, Brown slipped on the wet grass at Acrisure Stadium and was ruled out with an injury shortly afterwards. Austin Collins started at right guard against Pitt, a 38-21 loss, in Brown's place.

"I'm not sure if that was some of the reason, but he's had surgery and he's out for the year," Brohm said. "We'll try to get him back the start of next season."

The 6-foot-4, 315-pound lineman had been a big part of Louisville's early season success on the offensive line. He started the first six games of the season at right guard, with the Cardinals rushing for 192.3 yards and allowing just 2.33 sacks and 5.7 tackles for loss per game during that stretch.

Brown is one of the most tenured players on the Cardinals' roster. The West Palm Beach, Fla. native has started 40 games over his collegiate career, with 46 appearances and 2,355 offensive snaps played overall. Brown spent the first four years of his collegiate career at right tackle before being moved inside by the current staff.

"It's unfortunate what he had happened in the pregame warmups, but it did," Brohm said. "He's been in better spirits now after surgery, and he knows he's got to rehab and get better."

With Brown being lost for the season, Collins will now likely slide into the starting right guard spot. On top of starting vs. Pitt, Collins has played in four games so far this season, including the entire second half against Notre Dame.

Louisville is coming out of their bye week, and back in action this weekend for a home matchup with Duke. Kickoff is set for Saturday, Oct. 28 at 3:30.

(Photo of Renato Brown: Jamie Rhodes - USA TODAY Sports)

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