Brian Kelly provides update on multiple offensive injuries

No. 10 LSU is readying for a showdown with No. 6 Alabama with the top spot in the SEC West on the line and a bye weekend allowed the Tigers to get extra rest and healing for multiple offensive injuries.

The Tigers have had running back John Emery (Achilles), receiver Jack Bech (back) and offensive lineman Garrett Dellinger (MCL) banged up in recent weeks, and coach Brian Kelly provided an update on all three Wednesday on an SEC teleconference call.

“Emery practiced well the last couple of days so he is a go,” Kelly said. “Bech has practiced well, he is a go. Dellinger was better yesterday. I’m going to still reserve judgment on him till we get to gameday, so he would be probably a day-to-day situation.”

Both Emery and Bech have provided limited contributions on offense this season as a result of their injuries, though both were expected to be key figures on that side of the ball going into the year.

Emery has run for 154 yards and a touchdown on one carry, while also racking up six catches for 78 yards and a score. Bech has caught 10 passes for 81 yards and a touchdown.

Dellinger has started in five games (one at center and four at left guard) but has not played in the team’s last two contests against Florida or Ole Miss.

Kelly expands on multiple offensive injuries, plan for Dellinger

The first-year LSU coach also provided a bit more insight on the plan for reintegrating Dellinger into the lineup against Alabama.

It won’t happen all at once, even with Dellinger getting an extra week to recover during the bye. He probably won’t start, either.

“I don’t think we would put him back into the starting rotation, but he would be somebody that would be able to be in a rotation for us, which would be very beneficial in being able to take some of the snaps away from the rotation at the guard position,” Kelly explained. “If it can give us that kind of depth at the guard position, that helps us out in the long run. So it would be great to get him back.

“We don’t need him back for 60 snaps, but if we could get 20-25 really good, quality snaps, it just makes us more effective throughout the game at the guard position.”

Alabama and LSU are scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET kickoff on Saturday with a national broadcast on ESPN.