Brian Kelly calls Omar Speights doubtful to play, lists other injury updates

With LSU set to face Arkansas this weekend, Tigers head coach Brian Kelly provided an update on multiple players who have been dealing with injuries.

Kelly delivered positive news on sophomore tight end Mason Taylor and senior defensive end Ovie Oghoufo.

Taylor missed last week’s game against Mississippi State with an ankle injury, while Oghoufo has been dealing with a lower body injury.

“Mason Taylor is probable. I think Ovie is a probable, for sure,” Kelly said.

While Kelly had positive updates on a couple of LSU players, he had negative news to share about senior linebacker Omar Speights.

LSU said earlier in the week that Speights was probable for the matchup against Arkansas. However, that is no longer the case.

“I think Omar… I would probably downgrade him to doubtful,” Kelly said.

Speights made nine tackles through the first two weeks of the season, before missing last weekend’s game against Mississippi State with a lower body injury.

LSU won’t be full strength for Saturday’s matchup against the Razorbacks, but they are getting healthier. The Tigers are 17.5-point favorites for Saturday night’s game.

Brian Kelly provides health update on assistant Jimmy Lindsey

In addition to providing updates on LSU players, Tigers head coach Brian Kelly also provided a health update on defensive line coach Jimmy Lindsey.

Kelly shared that Lindsey is making progress after stepping away from the program in August due to a personal health matter. Lindsey is in his first season on the Tigers staff.

“Jimmy is continuing to make progress. He is in treatment right now,” Kelly said. “He’s about halfway through his treatments, and all reports are really positive in his treatment process.”

Jimmy Lindsey came to LSU after spending the previous two years at South Carolina. He has coached defensive lines in college football for more than 20 years.

Kelly is unsure when Lindsey will be able to rejoin the program, but he is thankful that Lindsey is making progress.

“No timeline has really been established relative to that right now as he’s right in the middle of his treatments,” Kelly said.

With Lindsey away from the program, John Jancek has been serving as the LSU defensive line coach. Jancek shifted over from his role as special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach to lead the Tigers d-line.

Jancek has plenty of college coaching experience, including serving as the defensive coordinator at Georgia and Tennessee.

LSU is off to a 2-1 (1-0) start to the season. The Tigers will host Arkansas on Saturday at 7 p.m.