Whit Weeks injury update: Frank Wilson believes LSU is 'ascending' toward return

The LSU Tigers have been without star linebacker Whit Weeks for the last two weeks as he’s battled injury. Luckily, it now appears he’s trending toward getting back on the field for the upcoming game against Alabama.

Newly minted interim head coach Frank Wilson appeared on the SEC teleconference on Wednesday. There, he admitted that Weeks wasn’t able to practice on Tuesday, though he is actually trending in the correct direction to get back on the field against Alabama.

“He did not practice yesterday,” Frank Wilson said. “He had an evaluation that’s trending and we got positive news on him. I’m optimistic more now than ever before that the probability of him playing in this game is a reality. I don’t know that for a fact just yet.”

In the South Carolina game on October 11th, Weeks rotated in and out of the game more than he normally would have. That was coming out of the first bye week and he hasn’t been able to play since then. In the latest game, a loss at home to Texas A&M, he could be seen on the sidelines wearing a boot to protect a bone bruise in his ankle.

“It will need to continue to trend in the right direction,” Wilson said. “But he had a very, very productive day from a rehabilitation standpoint, from a diagnostics standpoint on his status. So, I would say he’s ascending, and the trajectory is in the right direction for a possibility of playing in the game.”

LSU is heading into its second bye week. The majority of the focus during that extra time off is, obviously, going to be focused on the coaching change and how it’s going to affect the team. That’s massive. At the same time, for Weeks, it does give him an extra week not just to get cleared to play but to get back up to game speed before taking on a major test.

Now a junior, Whit Weeks has been the anchor of LSU’s defense from the linebacker position. In his six games this season, Weeks has made 29 total tackles, including 2.5 tackles for a loss and 1.0 sacks. He also has a fumble recovery. For his career, Weeks has 203 total tackles, 16.0 tackles for a loss, and 5.0 sacks. He also has an interception, three passes defended, and two forced fumbles.

LSU has a lot on its mind preparing for Alabama on November 8th. Getting Whit Weeks back is a key piece of that, as well as looking to find success moving forward this season.