Starting safety Supo Sanni will be sidelined for the season after a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered in practice, the football team announced Thursday.

The junior suffered the injury in practice on Wednesday. Sanni will take a medical redshirt this season and will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Sanni’s injury weakens an already thin secondary. Last year’s starter Garrett Edwards decided against playing this season despite having a year of eligibility remaining, and sophomore Walt Aikens, also a returning starter, was dismissed from the University this week after pleading guilty to misdemeanor theft charges during the summer.

Last season, the Illini secondary surrendered 248.8 yards per game through the air, second-worst in the conference. Senior Travon Bellamy is expected to take Sanni’s place and start alongside junior Trulon Henry.