Even as a devastating weather event gave LSU an extra -- and still controversial -- weekend off, the status of one of the Tigers’ most notable names is still up in the air.
As the Tigers began prep work for this Saturday’s game against Southern Miss, Leonard Fournette was not a participant in practice because of a lingering ankle injury. In the days leading up to the Florida game that was ultimately “postponed” because of Hurricane Matthew, the running back had been listed as highly doubtful with the ankle issue.
I don’t know if he’s going to play this week,” interim head coach Ed Orgeron said according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “I think he’s going to attempt to do.... I talked to Jack (Marucci), he’s going to do some things this week. He’s getting better. I would list him as questionable right now.”
The All-American initially injured the ankle during a mid-August summer camp practice; then aggravated it against Wisconsin in the opener; sat out the Week 2 game against an FCS foe; and then aggravated it again in Week 4 against Auburn before sitting for Missouri the following Saturday.
Fournette also missed the Week 2 game against FCS Jacksonville State because of the injury.
Shouldering most of the running-game load in place of Fournette, Derrius Guice ran for a career-high 163 yards in the win over Mizzou. The sophomore now leads the Tigers in rushing with 402 yards, four rushing touchdowns and 8.7 yards per carry. Fournette’s currently at 386-2-5.8 in less than three full games.