LSU defensive line takes another injury blow

The LSU football team has suffered a devastating number of injuries to their key players on both sides of the football. It’s time to add another player to the ever-growing list of players out for season for the Bayou Bengals. This time it’s defensive lineman Joe Evans.

LSU announced on Twitter that head coach Ed Orgeron said he does not expect Evans to return this season.

This year, he notched eight tackles and two tackles for loss in four games. In 2020, he tallied 13 tackles and one tackle for loss. As a freshman in 2019, he recorded 14 seven tackles, with two each coming against Northwestern State, Vanderbilt and Utah State.

It’s the latest injury blow to the Tigers’ defensive line that is already without Ali Gaye for the season, who is dealing with a shoulder or neck issue resulting from a “stinger” sustained against Kentucky.

Over his two seasons at LSU, Ali Gaye has developed into a talented NFL draft prospect, but the surgery presents a setback. With Gaye out, senior defensive end Soni Fonua will compete with freshmen Savion Jones and Phillip Webb for snaps on the opposite side of BJ Ojulari.

Ojulari is the younger brother of Azeez Ojulari, who was a dominant pass rusher at Georgia before being selected by the New York Giants in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

LSU decimated with injuries on both sides of the football

In addition to Ali Gaye and Joe Evans, the Tiger’s defensive unit has been absolutely decimated. Their two best corners, Eli Ricks and Derek Stingley, Jr. have both been ruled out for the season. Defensive end Andre Anthony was one of the Tigers’ best pass rushers and he is out for the season as well after suffering a knee injury against Central Michigan. Anthony was a critical part of the LSU defensive line.

Quarterback Myles Brennan also suffered a season-ending compound fracture in his left arm in a freak fishing accident. The timeline for Brennan’s return seems very uncertain with head coach Ed Orgeron’s recent comments.

Last but not least, LSU also suffered another season-ending injury to star wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, who has emerged as one of the best receivers in all of college football. The talented wideout was carted off the field in the Kentucky game. He went down awkwardly while trying to get his feet down on a catch along the sideline.

On a more positive note, defensive lineman Glen Logan will return for the Tigers for the Florida game this weekend.

On3’s Ashton Pollard, James Fletcher III, and Jonathan Wagner also contributed to this report.