Garrett Dellinger injury update: Brian Kelly provides latest on status of LSU offensive lineman

The LSU offensive line hasn’t quite been the same since starting left guard Garrett Dellinger suffered a high-ankle sprain against Texas A&M on Oct. 26, but the veteran could be available again soon.

Coach Brian Kelly provided an update on Dellinger’s status on Wednesday on an SEC teleconference call.

“He practiced a little bit yesterday,” Kelly said. “We’re taking it day by day. Look, I think it’s important when you’re coming back from this tightrope surgery that there’s kind of stages. You don’t throw him in for everything. Yesterday he was part of our pass protections, and he felt comfortable there. Today we’re going to get him involved in the run game. So we’re making progress.”

Garrett Dellinger was a key cog in an offensive line that was quite good until he went down. He just might have been the glue guy.

When he suffered his injury, LSU had given up only two sacks on the season. Since, they’ve surrendered a bunch, including a season-high seven to Florida in a loss on Saturday.

So getting Dellinger back would be huge.

“I would say that I’m optimistic, but each day we’ve got to work on building that confidence where he feels he can go out and be an asset for us,” Kelly said Wednesday.

Prior to Wednesday’s updates, Kelly had noted that the team would probably make a decision on Garrett Dellinger’s status in the middle of the week, after coaches have seen him practice a bit.

“We’re getting closer to where we think there’s a chance that he could play,” Kelly said, “but we won’t make that decision until probably midweek.”

Redshirt freshman Paul Mubenga has been the primary replacement for Garrett Dellinger in recent weeks, though he has struggled a bit.

LSU will take on Vanderbilt at home at 7:45 p.m. ET on the SEC Network on Saturday.