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Blake Shapen injury update: Jeff Lebby details severity around Mississippi State QB

Danby: Daniel Hager9 hours agoDanielHagerOn3
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Nov 8, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Blake Shapen (2) throws the ball against the Georgia Bulldogs during the first half at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Wesley Hale-Imagn Images

Mississippi State QB Blake Shapen suffered an injury in the third quarter of Saturday’s 41-21 home loss to No. 5 Georgia. It appeared to be an upper body injury in the left shoulder area, which kept him out for the remainder of the game.

At the time of his exit, Shapen was 10-of-15 passing for 86 yards and ran for 15 yards. In 10 games this season, the senior has passed for 2,234 yards and 15 touchdowns with just six interceptions. Following the loss, head coach Jeff Lebby provided an update on Shapen.

“Blake wanted to get back in the game,” Lebby said. “He came back out. After exams, we got inside and things checked out. He got on the field and man, he was hurting. He wasn’t able to get back in the game, so obviously we went with No. 1 (KaMario Taylor).”

“Blake felt like he could’ve got back in there, but he would have been very, very limited. We appreciate his toughness for wanting to get back in, but it was the right thing to do to go play 1.”

Now sitting at 5-5, Mississippi State needs just one win to become bowl eligible for the first time under Jeff Lebby. Playing No. 22 Missouri and No. 6 Ole Miss over the next three weeks however is quite the challenge though. But an upset along the way and Mississippi State gets an extra game in 2025.

Prior to the Georgia game, Shapen revealed that he thinks reaching that six-win mark would certainly help the trajectory of the program. Plus, if you’re able to do it sooner rather than later, it’s like a weight lifted off their shoulders.

“I mean, that’s the goal for sure,” Shapen said. “We want to reach a bowl game as quickly as possible. That’s definitely the goal. The faster you do that, the better bowl game you’re going to be able to get. So that’s our goal this week, is to go 1-0, doesn’t change our mindset on anything, but definitely want to get to a bowl game and bowl eligible as fast as possible.”

It will certainly be an uphill battle to knock off one of these ranked opponents, but the Bulldogs have shown that they can do it. Earlier this season, Mississippi State upset then-No. 12 ranked Arizona State 24-20 in Starkville.

If Shapen is unable to go in next Saturday’s game against No. 22 Missouri, freshman KiMario Taylor would make his first career start at quarterback. In relief against Georgia, Taylor completed 6/10 passes for 87 yards. He also rushed for 53 yards and three touchdowns in the loss.