Gary Patterson's team has taken quite a few hits in the last week
Gary Patterson's team has taken quite a few hits in the last week. (USATSI)

TCU is losing players at an alarming rate.

On Tuesday it was announced by TCU coach Gary Patterson that offensive guard Michael Thompson would be retiring after multiple knee injuries and surgeries. Thompson started six games for the Horned Frogs in 2011 and two games in 2012, but both of his seasons were cut short by knee injuries.

Which means that Thompson becomes the third player that the Horned Frogs have lost due to injury in the last week, though he's the first to be lost to injury. Starting offensive tackle Tayo Fabuluje left the program for personal reasons last week, while starting linebacker Joel Hasley left earlier this week because, as Gary Patteron described it, Hasley felt "it was time to move on from football."

Of course, as is often the case, Patterson won't let these recent departures be used as an excuse this season.

“Guys need to grow up,” Patterson told the Star-Telegram about the hit to TCU's depth chart. “I’m really excited about it because in both places we have people we can move. We’ll probably have to move a [offensive] tackle into guard. We won’t do that until we get through our first scrimmage.”

The Horned Frogs open camp on Wednesday.