Auburn CB Champ Anthony carted off the field after the highlight reel hit of the year

Auburn CB Champ Anthony was carted off the field after suffering what was described by the announcers as a "cataclysmic injury" to his lower left leg during the first quarter of the Tigers' September 21 matchup with Arkansas.

It happened one play after the play of the year: a booming hit on Razorbacks WR Andrew Armstrong.

Anthony was seen trying to remain in good spirits with a visible smile on his face as he was being carted out. Perhaps he was still smiling at his highlight-reel hit on Armstrong.

The injury was a possible compound tibia fracture and/or compound fibula fracture according to a Dothan-based general surgeon I spoke to. He had an air cast on so it was a lower extremity injury.

A tibia injury can take up four to six months while a fibula can be healed in several weeks. It's unclear as of now, and likely for at least a day or two, until Anthony will have anything close to a definitive recovery timetable.

Auburn football injuries piling up in the secondary

Anthony joins fellow DB Tyler Scott on the injury list. TE Brandon Frazier and K Alex McPherson were also scratches. McPherson has been out the entire season, giving way to Auburn High School alum Towns McGough stepping into the starting role.

Notably, Cam Coleman has also had a shoulder injury that has limited his opportunities. Of every injury, Coleman's is probably the most game-changing. Coleman, a founding member of the Freeze Four freshman receiving group, is expected to become one of Auburn's top offensive stars and was on his way until the injury.