LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr. out after foot surgery

LSU’s top cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., who is likely to be a first-round NFL Draft selection in April, is now sidelined indefinitely after undergoing surgery recently. 

Tigers head coach Ed Orgeron said there is not a timetable for the junior’s return to the field at this time. 

“I appreciate all of the support from LSU and the fans,” Stingley said. “I’m doing all that I can to return to the field as soon as possible. I want to finish out the season with my teammates, and I will do everything I can to get healthy so that I will be able to play again this year.”

Stingley suffered the injury on Sept. 22 in practice. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound standout recorded eight tackles and forced a fumble in three games.

Following Week 4’s slate of games, ESPN’s Mel Kiper had Stingley rated as his top cornerback for the 2022 NFL Draft.

The Baton Rouge product had injury issues last season as well, appearing in seven of LSU’s 10 games. He missed the 2020 opener against Mississippi State due to illness, sprained his ankle against Missouri in October, and suffered a concussion on a punt return against Arkansas in November. Despite missing games, he was first team All-SEC.

In LSU’s 2019 national championship season, the then-freshman had six interceptions and 38 tackles. He was the most decorated first-year player in the history of the storied LSU program and the first true freshman to start every game. Stingley was a consensus All-American in 2019.

Stingley was a five-star recruit and the top player in the 2019 class per Rivals.

Depleted LSU secondary has upcoming gauntlet of games

The Stingley news was followed by the announcement that starting safety Major Burns would miss this weekend’s game against Kentucky. To say the Tigers are thin in the secondary positions is generous.

LSU is 3-2 with wins over Mississippi State, Central Michigan and McNeese State. The only team they have played that is currently ranked is Auburn, which resulted in a come-from-behind 24-19 loss last weekend. Their next five opponents? No. 16 Kentucky, No. 20 Florida, No. 17 Ole Miss, No. 1 Alabama and No. 13 Arkansas. Put simply, it doesn’t get any easier from here.

Ole Miss and Alabama have suffocating passing attacks, a big issue for the secondary already allowing 248 yards per game through the air. That is last in the SEC. Their run defense falls in the middle of the pack in the conference, giving up 119 yards per game on the ground. Florida, Ole Miss and Arkansas are all averaging over 200 rushing yards per game.