Practice Report: More offensive line shuffling amid injuries

By JAMES MORAN
Tiger Rag Associate Editor

Shuffling players in and out has become the norm for LSU’s injury-riddled offensive line through the season’s first five games, and Monday’s open practice was no different.

Two starters, right tackle Toby Weathersby and left guard Will Clapp, were absent, as expected. Weathersby has missed the past two games with an ankle injury while Clapp left Saturday’s win against Missouri with an apparent arm injury.

The status of both starters remains very much in doubt heading into this weekend’s trip to Florida.

“Toby is going to be out for a little bit, and Will is going to be out for a little bit,” interim LSU coach Ed Orgeron said at his weekly press luncheon Monday. “We’ll know more about that as the week goes by.”

Maea Teuhema continued to work in Weathersby’s place at right tackle, where he’s started the last two weeks. Garrett Brumfield worked in Clapp’s place with the first team offensive line.

Center Ethan Pocic, the reigning SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week, practiced in a limited capacity. He watched full-team drills and was sporting bandages and a wrap on his left knee. He’s the only one of LSU’s starting five who hasn’t been sidelines by injury for any portion of the season.

When Pocic did participate, in the early portion of the 30-minute workout, it wasn’t always at center. At one point he shifted outside to right tackle, Teuhema slid inside to left guard and Andy Dodd played center.

Here’s some more newsy bits from practice:

– Leonard Fournette was an expected absence. He missed Saturday’s game and didn’t practice all of last week due to a lingering ankle injury. More on his status in this story from earlier.

– Defensive end Frank Herron and tight end Foster Moreau were also absent from practice. Herron was spotted in a walking boot earlier Monday. Moreau’s injury is unclear, though Saturday’s telecast showed him appearing to leave the field in pain.

– Cornerback Saivion Smith practiced Monday after not dressing out for Saturday’s win against Missouri.