LSU cornerback Derek Stingley provides details on his injury, status at NFL Combine

LSU Tigers cornerback Derek Stingley missed the majority of this past season due to a foot injury he suffered early in the year. At the NFL Combine this weekend, Stingley provided an update on his injury, also providing an update on his status as the 2022 NFL Draft nears.

“Derek Stingley Jr. confirms he tore his Lis Franc ligament in his foot week four of last season,” The Draft Network’s Carmen Vitali tweeted. “He’s still rehabbing currently & won’t be partaking in workouts here in Indy but is ahead of schedule in his progress and on pace to fully participate in his pro day.

“Had surgery on Sept. 29 and was given a timetable of 4-6 months recovery.”

Based on the 4-6 month timeline, Stingley should be nearing full health. Even though he won’t be working out at the NFL Combine, Stingley still has an opportunity to make his impression on teams across the league through Combine interviews.

Stingley has shown to be one of the nation’s best corners when he is at full strength, but we haven’t seen him at that level since 2019. That year, he totaled 39 tackles, six interceptions and 15 passes defended across 15 games. Over ten games across the past two years, though, Stingley has 35 tackles with zero interceptions and five passes defended, and he had zero passes defended before his injury this past season.

ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper sees a great fit for Stingley

ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper recently revealed his second mock draft, and he had Stingley going 12th overall to the Minnesota Vikings. Stingley was the second corner taken, only behind Cincinnati’s Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner. The fit for Stingley in Minnesota is clear, to Kiper.

“New general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and coach Kevin O’Connell inherit an aging defense from a front office that has had some notable first-round misses at cornerback in recent years, but that shouldn’t keep them from taking another swing,” Kiper said. “This is the position Minnesota needs most, and Stingley could be worth it.”

Kiper also added that, even though Stingley won’t be physically working out at the NFL Combine, Stingley still needs to have a strong week and leave an impression on teams and front offices.

“Stingley needs to show NFL teams that he can get back to the way he played in 2019, when had six picks as a true freshman on LSU’s national title team,” added Kiper. “He won’t be working out at the combine, which means his off-field work there — interviews with teams — will be crucial.”