Brian Kelly confirms Chris Hilton Jr surgery, reveals what led to that decision

LSU wide receiver Chris Hilton Jr.  suffered a recent shoulder injury that required surgery on Thursday, he revealed through a picture via social media. He is expected to miss the season. Tigers head coach Brian Kelly revealed the decision-making behind the mid-season surgery instead of having him tough the injury out.

“He had subluxed his shoulder on two or three occasions, and it got to the point where, do we wait till the end of the year, or do we get it done now? And I think that it just made sense to get it done now,” Kelly said. “I think our medical team will get him back for spring ball, so it just made sense to do it now.”

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Hilton will finish the 2022 season with seven receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown. Through five games, he’s the only LSU wideout to pass the century mark in receiving yards on less than 10 receptions. While it’s still a small sample size, Hilton’s return will be much anticipated when fall 2023 rolls around.

Elsewhere in the Tigers receiving room, LSU wideouts Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. are currently the top two on the team in receiving yardage. By far the biggest surprise of the 2022 season has been the production – or lack thereof – of Tigers’ superstar wideout Kayshon Boutte.

Many pegged Boutte as the No. 1 wide receiver in the 2023 NFL Draft, but thus far he’s had a remarkably disappointing season, only reeling in 11 catches for 97 receiving yards. Whatever the problem is, clearly LSU needs to get that fixed, but that remains to be seen as the season progresses.

LSU faces off against Hendon Hooker and the Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday, Oct. 8. Kickoff is slated for noon EST from Baton Rouge, La. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.