The injury bug continues to linger around the LSU Tigers. Freshman DT Richard Anderson was listed as doubtful on the player availability report to start the week before being ruled out for this week’s matchup against Auburn.
The speculation surrounding his status initially had nothing to do with an injury, as earlier this week, Big Rich shared photos of himself celebrating the upcoming birth of his child. However, Friday evening, Anderson reposted a photo of himself on Instagram stories in a hospital gown, seemingly recovering from some type of procedure.
In the photo, you can see a bandage around his right shoulder. There was no prior indication of when the injury took place.
The timing of this is not great. Anderson was becoming a vital piece of the interior rotation, especially in short-yardage and defensive red-zone situations. The Tigers will now have to move forward without a significant contributor to their defense down the home stretch. There is no official timeline for his return, but hopefully this was something minor and he can make his return before the end of the regular season.
To replace his presence in the middle, I could see the Tigers sliding the other ultra-talented freshman defensive lineman, Lamar Brown, inside. However, veterans like Dom McKinley, Shone Washington, and Brandon Brown will also have to step up.
How does this injury news make you feel about the Tigers’ chances going forward? Who do you think can replace the reps Big Rich was providing in the middle of the defense?