PUEBLO, Colo. — Columbia Falls bull rider Matt Triplett tore the medial collateral ligament in his left knee at a Professional Bull Riders event in Albuquerque this weekend, according to PBR media.

Triplett, the top-ranked bull rider in the PBR Built Ford Tough Series world standings, learned he suffered a grade-3 (complete) tear of his MCL following the results of an MRI on Monday afternoon. After talking with his doctor on Tuesday, it was determined he will not need surgery to treat the injury.

The 23-year-old sustained the injury when he was kicked in the leg after being thrown from a bull in the second round of the Ty Murray Invitaitonal on Saturday. He was originally diagnosed with a torn MCL/PCL. It was found that the PCL tear was from an older injury.

Triplett, who has been atop the world standings for the last eight weeks, is aiming to return in the next few weeks, possibly for PBR events in Nampa, Idaho, on April 11-12 or his home-state trip to Billings on April 17-19. He will ride with a knee brace when he is cleared to return.

Triplett is tied for the BFTS lead with two event wins and five round wins and holds a 385-point lead on Joao Ricardo Vieira for first place in the world standings. Triplett is riding a career-best 52.63 percent (20-for-38) of bulls this season.