LSU has lost running back John Emery to a season-ending ACL injury, but cornerback Zy Alexander will likely make his return from an ACL injury he suffered last October when the Tigers host Nicholls on Saturday night. Coach Brian Kelly says they plan to ease Alexander in.
“His workload as it relates to plays will increase dramatically over the next four weeks and it will start this week on special teams and it will pick up at the corner position,” Kelly said.
Kelly didn’t say it, but having Alexander back as a starting cornerback for the Ole Miss game on October 12th would be ideal.
Starting safety Jardin Gilbert will miss the first half of Saturday night’s game because of a targeting penalty he committed late in the fourth quarter against USC.
Kelly says he’s preparing to get freshman Dashawn Spears and redshirt freshman Kylin Jackson on the field more this Saturday.
“We’re looking at Kylin, Dashawn Spears to definitely get a good amount of work, Jardin is nursing a bit of deep thigh contusion and can’t play the first half as well and Jordan Allen has a bit of turf toe as well,” Kelly said.
Kelly said Allen is practicing, but he also said on Tuesday that he was displeased with the play of safeties.
The Nicholls game presents a perfect time to see some younger defensive backs get some game reps.
On the other side of the field, Kelly has also said they are preparing to get redshirt freshman Shelton Sampson more snaps. With Chris Hilton’s return undetermined, the Tigers need a big play receiver and Sampson could help in that department.
