The LSU Injury Report: Army Week

Brian Kelly updated the status of Emery Jones, other key Tigers ahead of Army week.

As No. 19 LSU shifts focus to Army Week, Brian Kelly provided an injury report ahead of game preparation.

The Tigers have battled a few minor injuries this season, and for this program, Week 8 provides an opportunity for a few guys to return to 100%.

The Injury Report:

Emery Jones (ankle sprain): Doubtful

Mekhi Wingo (lower body injury): Doubtful

Chris Hilton Jr. (ankle sprain): Probable

LSU offensive lineman Emery Jones went down with an ankle sprain against Auburn on Saturday night in Tiger Stadium with the starting right tackle using crutches on his way to the locker room. 

Shortly after the contest, Brian Kelly revealed Jones suffered an ankle sprain. For LSU, this is a best case scenario. With a matchup against Army set for this weekend and a bye week to follow, it gives Jones an opportunity to get healthy ahead of the home stretch of the season with the Alabama Crimson Tide showdown the week after the bye.

The Tigers will fall back on true freshman Lance Heard to handle starting right tackle duties this week with Kelly feeling comfortable in his youngsters abilities.

“[Auburn] brought a lot of pressure when [Heard] came into the game on his side. He was really good. He’s long, he’s athletic, he has a great set. There’ll be some things he can clean up but that’s a plug and play guy that can go in,” Kelly said of Heard. “When you lose one of your top guys and you look around and go, 'we're gonna be ok here,' that’s a nice player to come off the bench and put in there.”

LSU defensive lineman Mekhi Wingo has been dealing with a lower body injury all season, and now with a matchup against Army on Saturday, the Tigers will likely allow their star interior defensive lineman to get healthy. 

Like Jones, it provides an opportunity for Wingo to rehab, utilize a bye week and then get back to 100% for the matchup against Alabama.

Chris Hilton Jr. went down with an ankle injury against Ole Miss on the final play of the game and has missed the Tigers’ last two games. Now, after back-to-back absences, Hilton Jr. is probable for Saturday in Death Valley.