Center Tate Johnson out 6-8 weeks minimum, Auburn searching for answers along the OL
AUBURN – Auburn’s offensive line problems got worse on Monday, as head coach Bryan Harsin announced that center Tate Johnson will have elbow surgery on Thursday. The rehab time is 6-8 weeks, but Johnson could miss the remainder of the season.
Returning starter Nick Brahms already made the decision to retire from football during fall camp. Brahms endured multiple injuries and surgeries throughout his career. Johnson took over for Brahms and while he was the starter, was essentially the Tigers’ second-string center.
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That means Jalil Irvin, Auburn’s third-string center who came in for Johnson against Missouri, will likely start at center against LSU. Irvin started last year’s bowl game against Houston when Brahms was unavailable. Avery Jernigan, a 310-pound sophomore, is another option at center for the Tigers.
“It was unfortunate what happened to Tate,” Harsin said. “Jalil, and we’ll move some guys around. We have to figure that out, who the best five and what that’ll look like. That’ll be what we do on Tuesday and Wednesday.”
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The injury comes on the heels of yet another poor rushing performance from Auburn, who managed five rushing yards in the second half against Missouri. Johnson’s injury only adds to the difficulty Harsin and offensive line coach Will Friend face in creating production from that unit.
“Are we putting our guys in the best position to be successful? Do we have the right scheme and are we fitting it correctly? It’s a fundamental thing, are we blocking? Are we doing things with our techniques to teach the blocking the way we need to,” Harsin said.
“It’s a work in progress. We want to be better — we have to coach it, prepare them, execute it, all those things have to happen. Every single week, we go back to work. I know we can. I’ve seen it from our guys. I’ve seen us create opportunities in the run game, I’ve seen the protection be really good. We just have to be consistent with that. That’s what we’re doing right now.”
Th LSU rushing defense ranks 42nd nationally allowing 112 yards per game, and 3.5 yards per carry.
