Brian Kelly provides update on Emery Jones injury

LSU offensive tackle Emery Jones did not return to Saturday’s game vs. Auburn after leaving with an apparent ankle injury. Head coach Brian Kelly updated the sophomore’s status during the postgame presser.

“It’s an ankle sprain,” Kelly revealed postgame. “We will evaluate him [on Sunday] when we bring him in and figure out what level [sprain] it is. Whether it’s one that requires a week, we wouldn’t know until some time until Sunday or Monday.”

The injury occured during the first half of Saturday’s victory. Jones remained down after a play before making his way off the field with assistance from Kelly and the LSU training staff. He did not put any weight on his left leg on his way off the field.

LSU’s starting right tackle was later seen heading to the locker room on crutches with his shoe and sock removed from his left foot.

Jones started 12 of 14 games for the Tigers last year as a true freshman and has remained in that role for the first six games this season. He was named a second team preseason All-SEC election after earning all-conference freshman honors in 2022.

Freshman Lance Heard entered the game as his replacement. He provides an able body, coming into the program with tons of potential ranked as the No. 4 offensive tackle in the 2023 recruiting class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services.

With Jones on the sideline and Heard in his place, the LSU rushing attack ended up rushing for 238 yards and three touchdowns. The offensive line kept QB Jayden Daniels clean for the most part, holding the Auburn defense to two sacks on the day. He ended up accounting for over 400 total yards of offense and four touchdowns before the final whistle.

Next up for the Tigers is a non-conference matchup against Army, and Jones’ status for that matchup remains to be seen and will be updated throughout the week. Week 8’s opening kickoff is schedule for 7:30 p.m. ET live on the SEC Network.

“Army [is] going to be a good, tough physical football team,” Kelly said. “This team controls its own destiny at this point. We need to continue to impressive on the defensive side of the ball. Continue the consistency from an offensive endpoint, but I’ll put this team up with anybody in the league right now.”