First, all-Big East receiver Derek Kinder went down in training camp with a season-ending knee injury. Then starting quarterback Bill Stull injured the thumb on his throwing hand in the season opener against Eastern Michigan.

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Saturday

• Game: Pitt at Michigan State, noon
• TV: ESPN
• Where: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Mich.

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For many Division I teams, injuries to two starters is the quota for the season. For the Pitt Panthers, a starter seems to go down and out just about once a week.

The latest batch of bad news came Sunday when coach Dave Wannstedt learned that starting defensive tackle Gus Mustakas will miss the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. It is the third season-ending knee injury for a Pitt player. All three -- including backup freshman offensive lineman Chris Jacobson -- were hurt in non-contact situations.

"You get guys hurt. This many is a little bit surprising," Wannstedt said yesterday at his weekly news conference. "Normally, you're getting guys banged up. Generally, you get the one- or two-game injury.

"We've had some unusual things. We had Billy Stull ... the guy was trying to pull the ball out and he popped his thumb tendon. How do you figure? Unfortunately, when these things happen the next guy steps in and takes over."

The player taking over for Mustakas has some big shoes to fill. A 6-foot-3, 280-pound junior, Mustakas is probably Pitt's best defensive player. He is the Panthers' second-leading tackler with 11 stops, including two for losses.

Tommie Duhart, a 6-foot-4, 290-pound sophomore, will take Mustakas' spot in the starting lineup Saturday at Michigan State. Mick Williams, a 6-1, 290-pound sophomore from Monessen, moves up the depth chart behind Duhart to backup tackle.

"The players stepping in have to pick up the slack and pull their weight," senior offensive lineman Mike McGlynn said. "This presents an opportunity for other people to get playing time. That's why they came here: to make plays. We'll see how they play. I believe they'll do a good job."

Free safety Eric Thatcher knows what the injured players are going through. The starter missed the second half of last season with a broken ankle.

"It's tough to lose all these guys this fast," Thatcher said. "We just have to let it go. The guys out there now are the only ones who can help us out. We have to show we're a strong character team. We have to show we have backups who are ready to play."

The fortunate thing for Pitt is that defensive line is the deepest position on the team. Wannstedt has been able to improve the talent and depth at defensive tackle in his 2¹/₂ seasons on the job.

The Panthers had a five-man rotation at tackle before Mustakas' injury. Wannstedt said he will continue with a four-man rotation of Duhart, Williams and Rashaad Duncan and John Malecki.

"We'll go with the four older guys and try to redshirt as many of the freshmen as we can," Wannstedt said. "We'll continue to rotate guys. That will be key. That will be an advantage."

Wannstedt has faith in Duhart and Williams.

"They've both played in both games," Wannstedt said. "It's not like it will be the first time they're playing. They're both very talented."

NOTES -- Stull, out indefinitely with the thumb injury, is due to get his stitches out later this week. "Then it's rehab, and we'll see how it goes day to day," Wannstedt said. "Once he gets his strength back and he can throw the ball, we'll make a decision and go." ... Wannstedt was pleased with redshirt freshman Kevan Smith's first start at quarterback. He was 15 for 22 for 205 yards and threw one touchdown and one interception. "When you look at the big picture I thought he did a fine job for his first start," he said.