Ed Orgeron updates the health of his banged-up offensive line

Asked about the health of his offensive line as a whole, LSU coach Ed Orgeron needed just two words to sum up the state of things.

“It’s questionable,” the coach responded on the Southeastern Coaches Teleconference on Wednesday morning.

LSU will host Ole Miss on Saturday night without left guard Garrett Brumfield, who has already been ruled out for at least this week with a knee injury.

Offensive tackles Saahdiq Charles and Adrian Magee remain questionable to play, Orgeron said. Charles hasn’t practiced this week after sitting out the Louisiana Tech game with an undisclosed injury and Magee has yet to practice in pads since injuring his leg in the season-opener against Miami.

“Nothing has changed since Monday,” Orgeron said. “I’ll know more toward the end of the week on both of those guys.”

LSU will probably start true freshman Chasen Hines at left guard for as long as Brumfield’s out while Badara Traore would likely start again at left tackle if neither Charles nor Magee can play.

This will be the fifth different offensive line combination for LSU in as many weeks. The only constants have been center Lloyd Cushenberry and right guard Damien Lewis, a pair of first-year starters. This will be the third consecutive start at right tackle for Austin Deculus.

“No question it is a concern, but they keep on performing for us,” Orgeron said. “We had a freshman go in and he played well against Auburn, one of the best defensive lines in the country. He did it again last week, so we’ve got some guys stepping up.”

NOTES & QUOTES

– Orgeron on facing Ole Miss for the third time as LSU coach: “That was almost 13 years ago. It was a tremendous opportunity, but we’ve moved on from then. I’ve been to several schools since then. I’m an LSU Tiger now and glad of it. I understand this rivalry and I understand we’re going to get their best football.”

– Orgeron on outside linebacker Andre Anthony: “He’s played his best ball. Came in when Ray Thornton got hit very hard on the opening kickoff against Auburn. He had to go in there, and Andre played the whole game and played excellent. Andre is a young man we recruited out of Karr High School. Great character, great student. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to … His opportunity came. We have a saying here, next man up, and he’s a prime example of next man up. He’s performed well for this football team.”

– Orgeron on Damien Lewis: “What a get for us. He came in here as a mid-year offensive lineman. We knew the coaches at Northwestern Mississippi well, and we took their advice. They said ‘Coach, you’re not going to find a better guard,’ and they were right. He’s one of the best players on our football team … I wish we had him for four years.”