As LSU gears up for a tune-up game against Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday, there’s growing chatter about resting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier.
The No. 3 Tigers (3-0, 1-0 SEC) are heavy favorites against the FCS opponent and will face Ole Miss in Oxford on Sept. 27 before heading into a bye week. On Monday, head coach Brian Kelly revealed that Nussmeier has been dealing with a “torso injury” that’s been slowing him down, and he doesn’t expect the quarterback to fully recover until the bye.
With that in mind, some fans—and even ESPN’s EJ Manuel on SiriusXM—have suggested LSU sit Nussmeier this weekend to give him a head start on healing. However, Kelly said Wednesday during the SEC Coaches Teleconference that Nussmeier is expected to play.
“I think he needs the reps,” Kelly said. “Garrett wants to be out there. He’s healthy enough to go. Yes, the injury slowed him down and limited some of our offensive development because we had to be cautious.
“We scaled back practice and took precautions to protect him. That approach worked, and now he’s turning the corner. This week he’s been able to do things in practice he couldn’t do a few weeks ago, and we’re excited to see how that translates on Saturday.”
Nussmeier’s injury may help explain LSU’s relatively slow offensive start. The Tigers are averaging just 20 points per game through their first three contests—down 10.5 points from last year’s mark. Nussmeier is also throwing for nearly 100 fewer yards per game, and his yards per attempt have dropped by more than a yard, though his completion rate has slightly improved.
Still, LSU’s bigger concern might be the lack of a running game. The Tigers currently rank 109th in the nation in rushing efficiency, averaging just 3.7 yards per carry. Only Alabama has fewer explosive runs among SEC teams so far.
This weekend’s matchup could give LSU a chance to accomplish several things—ease Nussmeier back into rhythm without overtaxing him, put more emphasis on establishing the run game, and get the offense back on track with a big scoring performance.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
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