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What to expect from players off LSU's Week 3 injury report

On3 imageby:Matthew Brune•09/15/22•

MatthewBrune_

LSU tigers football BJ Ojulari
NEW ORLEANS, LA - SEPTEMBER 04: LSU Tigers defensive end BJ Ojulari (18) celebrates during a game between the LSU Tigers and the Florida State Seminoles at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana on September 4, 2022. (Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Brian Kelly took the podium for a brief final press conference ahead of Saturday’s game against Mississippi State. In the ten minutes, he talked about the challenges the bulldogs pose, but he also talked about the health of several key players.

Here’s a rundown of how healthy each player is and my expectations for them going into Saturday.

CB Sevyn Banks: Very Healthy 

Expectations

I don’t expect Banks to start or play a majority of the snaps, but he could be used in specific packages throughout the game. He’ll also get looks to give the other corners a rest. Kelly mentioned the “rust” playing a factor in seeing how he feels. He missed portions of last year with this injury, so it’s not just catching up to the speed of the game, but trusting himself to make the plays necessary and tackling. This is a challenging offense to face in your first game back from injury, because it’s not just his body that will be tested.

CB Colby Richardson: 100 percent

Expectations

Richardson has bounced back from a thigh contusion, practicing all week, so there’s an expectation that he’ll return to the starting lineup across from Jarrick Bernard in this game. The injury in itself doesn’t sound like one that would linger, so I’m expecting to see Richardson look fine and be tasked with holding up against the size of the Bulldogs receivers.

DE BJ Ojulari: 100 percent

Expectations

It was cautionary to hold him out last week, and now he’ll be tasked with hitting the ground running against this air raid attack. Ojulari will start and be a pivotal part of this offense as LSU tries to rush the process for Will Rogers at quarterback. Ojulari was good against Florida State, but we’ll be waiting for his breakout game.

DL Quency Wiggins: 80-85 percent

Expectations

Kelly said that Wiggins will only really be playing on special teams to try to work him back into where he needs to be. It would be great to have him on this defensive line for depth purposes, but the true freshman will have to wait another week before he’s cleared for full go and even then, the stamina and physicality coming off of an injury is going to be challenging early on.

Others: RB John Emery, DB Joe Foucha

Emery was still serving an academic suspension that is now lifted, allowing him to play his first game in nearly two years. Kelly looked to temper expectations, but it’s a run game that desperately needs some juice, so we’ll see how emery looks.

Foucha still has two more games to sit out after a credits situation has him academically ineligible. There’s still an expectation that he plays a key role on this team this year.

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