The defensive line for the Baylor Bears was dealt a blow on Wednesday as it was announced that DT Kaeron Johnson will be missing the season after having back surgery. Though he can technically get a medical redshirt, it's not clear if he will so that he can replay his senior season.Johnson had missed most of the preseason because of injury, so the loss of him for the season was expected more than a surprise.

According to Our Daily Bears, the formation on the defense could see some strange and interesting shifts around to compensate for the loss of Johnson:

I'd expect that we will see more of a 3-man front, whether it is in the rumored 3-4 or possibly a 3-3-5 alignment, than we would have otherwise. I have been told that this change won't affect the overall scheme of the defense, but it may take some pressure off the line. I would also expect that Javonte Magee could move inside on passing downs in a 4-man front to take advantage of his size and speed. That assumes, of course, that we get to passing downs and teams don't just ground and pound up the middle on us. It may be that we see someone move from OL to DL (Jeramie Roberts is a possibility) just to take up space or provide relief. The best hope is probably that our redshirt freshmen take up the slack with stellar play of their own.

Baylor is already expected to suffer a drop in form from 2011 after losing their two biggest offensive weapons to the NFL, Heisman winner Robert Griffin III and wide receiver Kendall Wright.

More on Kaeron Johnson and the Baylor Bears can be found over at Our Daily Bears, while more news and analysis on NCAA Football in general can be found over at SB Nation's NCAA hub and YouTube channel: