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Garrett Nussmeier won’t need surgery for his injury, LSU head coach Brian Kelly confirmed Wednesday, shutting down rumors that had been swirling about the Tigers’ starting quarterback potentially facing extended time on the sidelines. Kelly made it clear that Nussmeier has been dealing with an abdominal strain from early in the season — not a more serious core injury — and is now recovering during a timely break in the schedule.
“That’s misinformation,” Kelly fired back during the SEC coaches teleconference. “Those are not based on any facts. They’re quite silly, actually. This is misinformation.”
The Tigers’ offense has been stuck in neutral through five games this season. They’re putting up just 27.0 points per game — tied for a disappointing 80th nationally. While Nussmeier is completing passes at a career-best 67.3% clip, he’s only throwing for 231.8 yards per game with seven touchdowns against three interceptions. Those numbers aren’t what Tiger fans expected from their gunslinger, leaving the offense sputtering at critical moments.
His performance against Ole Miss last Saturday didn’t help quiet concerns. Nussmeier managed just 197 yards with one TD and one pick in the 24-19 loss to the Rebels.
The Road Ahead
Kelly emphasized that the team’s top priority has been managing their quarterback’s health — something that’s become increasingly important as LSU stares down a gauntlet of upcoming opponents.
The Tigers will face South Carolina, No. 16 Vanderbilt, No. 6 Texas A&M, and No. 10 Alabama after their bye week. That’s a murderer’s row of SEC talent that will require Nussmeier at full strength.
“It’s been slow to heal,” Kelly admitted. “But as I mentioned, he’s on the backside of that. He’s getting rest this week and he’ll be the Garrett Nussmeier that he needs to be as we get into the very difficult part of our schedule.”
This isn’t Nussmeier’s first health challenge this season.
Before the season even kicked off, LSU had to carefully manage a minor knee issue that Nussmeier aggravated during August practices. The coaching staff limited his reps early on to protect their starter. When combined with the abdominal strain, it’s clear why the Tigers have been handling their QB with kid gloves — keeping him healthy enough to play, even if he hasn’t been able to unleash his full potential yet.
