Paul Finebaum reacts to Garrett Nussmeier injury scare, level of concern at LSU

There’s plenty of reason to be excited going into the season for LSU. That is, in no small part, because of quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who is projected to be a first round NFL Draft pick. Of course, that relies on Nussmeier staying healthy.

Recently, Nussmeier did have a bit of an injury scare. Rumors swirled that he’d suffered a major injury in Fall Camp. Luckily, LSU head coach Brian Kelly was able to share that those rumors were overblown, explaining he has tendinitis in the patella of his knee. It’s not ideal, but it’s also not something the team is overly concerned about.

With LSU signaling it’s not overly concerned about the injury, ESPN’s Paul Finebaum shared on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning that he isn’t worried either. At the same time, it does show how precarious the situation is for the Tigers going into what is an important season for the program.

“I feel pretty good about that,” Paul Finebaum said. “When you say, from an injury standpoint, .5 on a scale of 0-10, that’s essentially saying it’s no big deal. It’s waking up in the morning and you’re a little bit sore, and you go in and you get treated.”

LSU is coming off a 9-4 season, the worst by record of the previous three that Brian Kelly has led the Tigers too. Now, expectations are higher. Having one of the best quarterbacks in the country is going to be key to improving on that. However, the schedule is a very difficult one, and losing Nussmeier would likely set the Tigers up for failure.

“I don’t think it’s a big deal. What I think it really shows is just how precarious the LSU schedule is as well. First game speaks for itself, then all these other games, including that Florida game a couple of weeks later. So, I just think that it’s a little bit like Auburn, except the stakes are higher. [If] they get out of Clemson with a win, and expectations are just going to rocket around the world. If they lose,” Finebaum said. “It’s probably the easiest prediction in the world what Labor Day morning is going to be like when it comes to LSU fans. I mean, they will be in a complete meltdown.”

Last season, Garrett Nussmeier threw for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns. There are predictions around the country that he could be a Heisman contender. To get there, he’ll need to stay healthy and put together some memorable moments. He’ll have the chance to do so in Week 1 against Clemson.