LSU Injury Report vs. Vanderbilt: Latest on Whit Weeks, more

No. 10 LSU heads to Nashville as 2.5-point underdogs vs. No. 17 Vanderbilt, and the Tigers are battling injuries coming out of a win over South Carolina.

While the Commodores (5-1) are coming off a bye week following the program’s loss to Alabama, LSU is working through the week of practice with injuries to multiple starters and key backups on both sides of the football.

On Thursday afternoon, with less than 48 hours until the two teams kick off at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, LSU head coach Brian Kelly shared the latest injury report for the Tigers.

Probable: WR Aaron Anderson, LG Paul Mubenga

Anderson leads the team in receiving yards and is a key piece to finding both rhythm and explosive plays on an LSU offense that has struggled do create both across the team’s 5-1 start. The good news: after sitting out of the win over South Carolina following the bye week, Anderson is listed as probable to play by Kelly. When Anderson was sidelined, wide receiver Kyle Parker stepped into a starting role and turned in the biggest game of his career in purple-and-gold.

Mubenga, LSU’s starting left guard, is also listed as probable to return to the field after sitting out this past weekend. Coen Echols, who has seen plenty of playing time as a backup this season, moved into the starting spot on LSU’s offensive line when Mubenga was sidelined.

Questionable: LB Whit Weeks, EDGE Jimari Butler

All eyes are on Weeks and his availability this weekend vs. Vanderbilt. LSU’s captain on defense rotated in and out of the lineup more frequently than normal in the win over South Carolina, and earlier this week, Kelly said Weeks was battling through normal midseason bumps and bruises. With 48 hours until kickoff, Weeks being listed as questionable turns even more heads given rest and a handful of practices didn’t bump him into the “probable” category on the injury report. If Weeks can’t play, look for backup linebacker Davhon Keys to see more snaps alongside West Weeks. The snap counts for LSU’s top three linebackers this season are about even with Whit Weeks at 259 snaps, West Weeks at 228 snaps, and Keys at 210 snaps.

Butler, a backup defensive end for the Tigers, remains questionable to play vs. the Commodores. With fellow backup defensive end Gabriel Reliford out for the season, the starters will likely remain Patrick Payton and Jack Pyburn, while sophomore Dylan Carpenter would see an uptick in his 44 snaps played this season if Butler is sidelined on Saturday.

Doubtful: DT Bernard Gooden

Given Vanderbilt runs the football well, the absence of one of LSU’s starting defensive tackles would be notable. Gooden, who suffered a bruised collarbone in this past weekend’s win over South Carolina, was listed by Kelly as doubtful to suit up on Saturday in Nashville. Expectations are Dominick McKinley would remain the starter at one defensive tackle spot, while sophomore Ahmad Breaux and freshman Buddy Mathis would see their snaps increase alongside veteran nose tackle Jacobian Guillory if Gooden doesn’t play for the Tigers this weekend.