LSU Tigers leading rusher Caden Durham is doubtful for Saturday night's game at Ole Miss due to an ankle injury, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel. He was injured in last Saturday's 56-10 win over SE Louisiana and has been limited in practice all week.
Durham leads the Tigers with 213 yards and two touchdowns. He is the clear-cut front man in the Tigers' running back room, with significantly more production than the two other ball carriers who have seen meaningful action. Sophomore Ju'Juan Johnson is expected to see more action, as will junior Kaleb Jackson.
"It's really an element of time, LSU coach Brian Kelly said on Friday about Durham's injury. "He's gotten better each day, but we've gotta take Friday, we've gotta take right up to Saturday before we make a decision on him and give him a chance. He wants to play, so we told him the only way this is gonna work is if we give you the whole week and right up to game time. His status is the same."
LSU's offense is No. 112 nationally in rushing, averaging just 116.8 yards per game. That's the second-lowest average in the SEC behind South Carolina (80.3). The lackluster offensive punch on the ground has ample room for improvement.
Outside of Durham, Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has worked through a lingering torso injury. LSU has the country's No. 30 passing offense behind the Heisman hopeful.
LSU and Ole Miss meet in Oxford on Saturday afternoon (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
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