Brian Kelly provides encouraging injury update on BJ Ojulari, Sevyn Banks

LSU head coach Brian Kelly gave injury updates for two of his key defensive players in defensive end BJ Ojulari and cornerback Sevyn Banks. Ojulari suffered a lower-body injury in the team’s opening game versus Florida State and never returned, and also missed the teams week 2 matchup versus Southern University, but Kelly expects to see him return to action this week game against Mississippi State.

“We expect him to be available based upon my conversations with our doctors yesterday,” Kelly said.

Ojulari’s return will be big for the Tiger’s defense, and so would Banks, as he’s been battling a lingering injury from fall camp. As Kelly spoke on the importance of his potential return to the roster as they face Mike Leach‘s air raid offensive attack this week.

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“Sevyn is close to being ready. He wanted to play in the opener, but our medical team wanted to make sure that he was 100 percent. He was probably 90 percent and there was really no need,” Kelly said. “We feel like we’re in pretty good shape, this is a game where you know, all hands on deck at that position.”

It seems like Banks is right on the brink of returning to action for the LSU secondary, and that his status for Saturday will depend on his day-to-day condition throughout the week leading into the game.

“So the expectation is right now is that he’s going to be dressed out and we’re gonna know here Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday how that eventually puts him in the rotation so you’re right on he’s at the cusp of playing and we’ll see how he practices this week,” Kelly said.

More on Ojulari and Banks

Ojulari enters this season as LSU’s sack leader from last year with seven and with the second most tackles for loss with 11.5. He earned the No. 18, which is given each year to the player who best represents all the outstanding traits of an LSU football player and was also named a preseason All-America and earned a spot on the preseason the All-SEC team.

Ojulari got injured early in their week 1 matchup against Florida State, but showed his impact immediately by sacking quarterback Jordan Travis on the first play of the Seminole’s first offensive drive.

Banks is a transfer from Ohio State entering his first season with the Tigers. He started in 14 career games for the Buckeyes recording 43 tackles and two interceptions. Banks brings talent to the table, but also big game experience playing in multiple conference championship games, College Football Playoff semifinals, and a National Championship game, and the addition of him and Ojulari into the lineup should be very helpful for the Tigers defense moving forward.