LSU is not rushing Leonard Fournette back from the ankle injury that’s bothered him for most of the season.
LSU interim coach Ed Orgeron said Tuesday the running back would likely miss Saturday’s game. Fournette was absent during LSU’s 42-7 win over Missouri two weeks ago after reinjuring his left ankle in the waning moments of the Tigers’ loss to Auburn.
“I don’t think he’s going to play. Hasn’t practiced. I would not expect him to be ready this Saturday,” Orgeron said via the Advocate.
After coach Les Miles was fired following the Auburn loss, Orgeron said the LSU offense would look a little different. The sample size is just one game due to the postponement of the Tigers’ game vs. Florida, but the results vs. Missouri were promising even without Fournette in the lineup.
LSU had 52 carries for 418 yards (8 yards per carry) vs. Mizzou. RB Derrius Guice had 17 carries for 163 yards and three scores while Darrel Williams had 21 carries for 130 yards and three touchdowns.
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The game propelled Guice to the team rushing lead over Fournette. Guice has 46 carries for 402 yards and four scores while Fournette has 67 carries for 386 yards and two touchdowns.
The Southern Miss game will be the third game Fournette has missed in 2016. He initially injured his left ankle in a preseason scrimmage and limped off the field in LSU’s season-opener vs. Wisconsin. After the Wisconsin game he missed Week 2 vs. Jacksonville State before playing against Mississippi State and Auburn. He is expected to return at some point this season.
Orgeron says Fournette will return at some point this season.
"Taking a little longer than we thought." #LSU
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) October 12, 2016
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
