Garrett Nussmeier injury update: Frank Wilson details diagnosis, availability moving forward

LSU played without starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier on Saturday in a 23-22 win over Arkansas. The veteran quarterback reinjured himself in practice late in the week, preventing him from playing in all but an emergency setting.

Backup Michael Van Buren, a Mississippi State transfer, got the start in his place. He was effective.

“He reinjured himself the back end of this week in practice, just making a routine throw,” interim coach Frank Wilson said of Garrett Nussmeier. “I don’t know if it was scar tissue or exactly what it is from a diagnosis standpoint, but it’s his ab area. It happened at the back end of this week.”

As a result, LSU made the decision to hold Nussmeier today. It proved to be a good one, as Van Buren was good enough to lead a late scoring drive for the win.

The backup finished with 221 passing yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 36 yards in the contest. It was enough to keep Arkansas off balance.

Of course, LSU would love to get Garrett Nussmeier back going forward. He’s a savvy veteran who has played a lot of football.

“What is it going forward? I’m not quite sure,” Wilson said. “We practiced up until yesterday to see if there was opportunity that was potential if we got in an emergency situation. And he was not able to do so. So we’ll continue to monitor him day by day, week by week to see his progress.”

On the season, Garrett Nussmeier has thrown for a team-leading 1,927 yards with 12 touchdowns and five interceptions. He has also run for one score.

Many viewed Nussmeier as a potential Heisman Trophy candidate going into the season, but the year hasn’t played out as LSU expected. So much so that head coach Brian Kelly was fired when the team fell to 5-3 on the season with a blowout loss to Texas A&M.

LSU dropped its first game under Wilson, the interim coach, last week to Alabama. It was competitive, but the Tigers couldn’t find the firepower to move past the Tide, falling 20-9. Saturday’s win over Arkansas was the program’s first since Kelly’s departure.