Notebook | Greedy Williams held out of practice as a “precaution,” questionable to scrimmage on Saturday

All-American cornerback Greedy Williams was held out of practice Wednesday as a precaution due to a “slight injury,” LSU coach Ed Orgeron said during his post-practice presser.

“I don’t think it’s something that we need to be worried about,” Orgeron said. “We pulled him out more for a precaution.”

The coach did not specify any further as to what the minor ailment may be, but Williams was one of a handful of players held out of Wednesday’s practice following what Orgeron described as a “spirited” workout on Tuesday. Orgeron characterized the absences as being due to the kind of bumps and bruises typical of camp and “nothing major” injury wise.

“Just regular camp stuff,” Orgeron said.

Williams is questionable to participate in LSU’s first preseason scrimmage on Saturday night, Orgeron said. Even if Williams sits it out, his absence would allow the staff to get extra looks at the cornerbacks vying to start opposite him or inside in the nickel package.

That includes Kristian Fulton, who will have his appeal heard by the NCAA on Thursday afternoon. A decision on his eligibility for the 2018 season should be known by Friday morning at the latest.

Orgeron praised Fulton for staying the course and doing everything asked of him while serving a two-year NCAA suspension for tampering with a drug test. Fulton has taken first- and second-team reps to this point in camp, and Orgeron didn’t have a set plan for how — if at all — an unfavorable decision from the NCAA would affect the way Fulton is utilized in practice.

“We haven’t discussed that yet,” Orgeron said. “To be honest with you, he’s taken first- and second-team reps the whole time, and I don’t think we’re going to change. Obviously we’re going to let him practice. What we’re doing right, in fall camp, isn’t getting ready for an opponent, but letting everybody get better.”

STATUS QUO

Five practices in as many days — only the most recent coming in full pads — has accomplished little in terms of separating the four quarterbacks vying to become LSU’s starter. Each of the contestants have had their moments, Orgeron said, but none have raced out ahead of the others.

“Those guys will continue to compete,” Orgeron said. “Those guys will share the reps. Nothing has changed there, and I don’t see anything changing there for the next week or so.”

The first chance for Joe Burrow, Justin McMillan, Myles Brennan and Lowell Narcisse to show out in a game situation will be on Saturday night as LSU holds its first “preseason game” in Tiger Stadium.

Orgeron wasn’t sure how the reps would be divided up in that scrimmage. LSU has rotated which quarterback plays with which offensive unit in practice on a daily basis. The staff will meet Friday — the first off day for the players since camp opened — to discuss rotations and other details ahead of the scrimmage.

“We’re going to have a two-hour film review,” Orgeron said. “What we’re going to do is talk about the quarterback rotation and every rotation on Friday.”

AN UPPER HAND

Junior Adrian Magee has “a leg up” on sophomore Austin Deculus in the battle to be LSU’s starting right tackle, Orgeron said.

Many considered Deculus the favorite to win the job going into camp, but it seems Magee made up enough ground to in the spring to pull ahead through five days of fall camp. Magee worked with the first-string unit for most of the spring while a wrist injury limited Deculus to non-contact work.

“Adrian Magee is battling,” Orgeron said. “He has a leg up because of his experience in the spring. Austin has come along but didn’t practice much in the spring. He’s got to catch up.”

VOID TO FILL

LSU is still looking for a big-bodied tight end to take the place of Jamal Pettigrew, who will likely miss all of the 2018 season due to an offseason knee injury.

Previously Orgeron and Co. were eyeing some athletic linebackers for a potential position switch to the other side of the ball, but after five days of evaluation, the staff has a different positional excess in mind when it comes to filling in the depth chart at tight end.

“We still may move a couple of our guys from wide receiver, some of our big wide receivers,” Orgeron said. “We’re going to continue discussing that. There’s a void there at tight end and we’re going to have to find some players to fill it.”

PRACTICE STANDOUTS

1. DB Terrence Alexander: “He played nickel. He’s very smart. Adjusting well, can play the ball well and tackle. Corey (Raymond) and Bill Busch really like him, so he’s really coming along.
2. CB Kristian Fulton: “Kristian Fulton had one hell of a day today. He really had a good day. He showed out…”
3. S Grant Delpit: “So did Grant Delpit. His shoulder looks like it’s healed. He tackled, not just tackled but thudding up when he made contact. Those guys seem to be getting better on the back end.”
4. Outside linebackers: “K’Lavon (Chaisson) is doing a great job. We have a lot of great rushers. I’ll tell ya another guy who is rushing up is Travez Moore and Michael Divinity. Michael Divinity is having one heck of a camp. He came focused and ready to go. With Ray Thornton out there, we’ve got some outside linebackers.”