JJ Pegues injury: Ole Miss DL leaves game vs. Georgia in 3rd quarter, heads to locker room

Ole Miss defensive lineman JJ Pegues left Saturday’s game against Georgia in the third quarter with an injury. He was down throughout the ABC commercial break and walked off the field gingerly with the training staff before heading to the locker room.

Pegues appeared to get caught in the pile on a Nate Frazier carry with 10:48 to go in the third quarter. The training staff tended to him on the field before he eventually walked with them toward the sideline and, eventually, to the locker room.

ABC’s Molly McGrath later reported trainers were looking at Pegues’ shoulder and neck. He was still in the locker room as the Georgia offense came back out for its ensuing drive, and Ole Miss deemed him questionable to return.

“You saw d-lineman JJ Pegues walk slowly and gingerly back to the locker room,” McGrath reported on the broadcast. “Athletic training staff were very carefully rubbing his left shoulder and neck area. I’m told he is undergoing further evaluation and is questionable to return with an upper-body injury. He’s still in the locker room now.”

Pegues is an important part of the Ole Miss defensive line this year, entering Saturday’s game with 32 tackles to go with 2.5 sacks and a fumble recovery. Of course, he has also been involved with the Rebels’ offense in the red zone, taking 11 carries for 28 yards and six touchdowns.

The Georgia game is always a big one for Ole Miss, but this year’s matchup has even bigger implications. With two losses to their name, the Rebels are fighting for their College Football Playoff lives, and a loss could take them out of the picture. Pegues acknowledged how much is at stake, especially considering the weather that hit Oxford.

“I just feel like we all are on the same page, like we know how big of a game this is and we know if we want to make it to the playoffs, that Georgia is on our schedule, in our way,” Pegues said. “And we just feel like with the preparation we put in and the game we put together last week, that we’re prepared for this game, no matter rain or anything like that.”