Texas A&M will be without Chace Sims and Tiger Riden Jr. for the entire 2026 season, thinning the Aggies’ depth at defensive tackle and running back.
Texas A&M took a pair of tough preseason hits Thursday when head coach Mike Elko confirmed that defensive tackle Chace Sims and running back Tiger Riden Jr. will miss the entire 2026 season because of injuries.
Neither player was expected to be the centerpiece of his position group, but both were in line to provide valuable depth for an Aggies roster with big expectations.
Sims, a 6-3, 293-pound sophomore, was competing for a rotational role along the defensive front.
The Richmond, Texas, native arrived as a four-star prospect in the 2025 recruiting class and was ranked No. 227 overall and No. 23 among defensive linemen in the 247Sports Composite.
He didn’t appear in a game last season, but 2026 was shaping up as an opportunity for Sims to finally crack the rotation.
Now that opportunity will have to wait.
The loss is significant because defensive tackle depth becomes increasingly important once SEC play begins.
Texas A&M has bodies at the position, but losing a young player who was expected to push for snaps narrows the margin for error.
Riden’s absence may be even more noticeable.
The 5-10, 219-pound running back appeared in five games as a true freshman last season and flashed some power late in the year.
His most productive outing came in a 48-0 win over Samford, when he carried the ball 11 times for 45 yards and a touchdown.
That wasn’t enough work to establish him as a major offensive weapon, but Riden’s physical running style made him an intriguing candidate for a larger sophomore role.
Instead, Texas A&M will have to lean more heavily on Reuben Owens II and Jamarion Morrow to carry the load.
That makes staying healthy at running back even more important.
The Aggies still have enough talent to absorb both losses, but this is exactly the kind of preseason news coaches hate.
Depth rarely looks critical in August. By October and November, it can decide games.
For Elko, the task now is simple: reshuffle the rotation, develop the next man up and make sure two season-ending injuries don’t turn into a bigger problem.
Texas A&M opens the 2026 season Sept. 5 against Missouri State at Kyle Field, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.
