Brian Kelly provides an update on the health of running backs John Emery, Corey Kiner

Less than a week away from the spring game, LSU coach Brian Kelly has a couple of running backs on the injury report. In an interview after practice on Saturday, one reporter noted that senior tailback John Emery was in a walking boot, while sophomore Corey Kiner also didn’t practice.

Kelly provided an update on both backs, beginning with Emery. He seems to be in the better position of the two, and even has a chance to play in the spring game this upcoming weekend.

“It doesn’t seem to be a major injury at all,” the coach said. “It seems to be a minor injury. Maybe something that we can get him back next week.”

But when it came to Kiner, the team’s leading returning rusher with 324 yards and two touchdowns, the outlook was a bit more bleak. He appears likely to miss the spring game, but should be back in time for the start of the season.

“It seems like a high ankle sprain,” Kelly said of Kiner’s injury. “The early indications are that’s gonna be about 2-3 weeks.”

Emery has a chance to start in the backfield for LSU after missing all of 2021 due to academic issues. A former five-star recruit and the No. 1 running back in the 2019 class according to On3 Consensus, he still has plenty of talent to put to use. During his sophomore season in 2020, he finished second on the team with 378 yards and three touchdowns.

Neither Emery nor Kiner will be without competition though, as the Tigers also brought in Penn State transfer Noah Cain. The No. 8 running back according to On3’s Transfer Portal Rankings, Cain spent the past three seasons with the Nittany Lions compiling a total of 806 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. At 5-foot-10 and 220 pounds, he has the bulky frame needed to be effective in short yardage situations.

It’s clear that Brian Kelly will have numerous running backs to choose from in 2022, and will likely employ several different players in the backfield. Unfortunately for him, he just might not get the chance to evaluate all of those players in the spring game, which kicks off Saturday.