PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -The 2011 college football season hasn’t started yet and Penn State has already suffered a major loss.

Defensive end Pete Massaro will likely miss the 2011 season after suffering a knee injury in practice.

Massaro tore the ACL in his left knee and will undergo surgery in the next month which is expected to sideline him for the next nine months. This is the second major knee injury for Massaro after tearing the ACL in his right knee during the 2009 season.

The 6-4 defensive end was fourth on the team with 8 tackles for losses last season. He also recorded 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.