Boston College has suffered a pair of setbacks to its thin linebacking corps before Saturday’s home game against Central Michigan, as senior Connor Strachan has been ruled out for the season and sophomore Max Richardson is out indefinitely.

Both players have knee injuries.

Strachan hurt his knee prior to the season opener at Northern Illinois but played in the first two games. He will be eligible for a medical redshirt and can return as a fifth-year senior in 2018. Strachan was an All-ACC honorable mention selection in 2016 and led the Eagles with 80 tackles last season.

Richardson was felled in the first half of last Saturday’s 34-7 loss at Clemson. He had supplanted Strachan at middle linebacker and was productive as a first-year starter, totaling 23 tackles in four games, including seven in the first half at Clemson.

The latest injuries leave the Eagles without three of their top six linebackers, as Sharrieff Grice was forced to retire because of an injury suffered in preseason camp in August.