As LSU coach Brian Kelly sees it, ailing quarterback Garrett Nussmeier can rest during the bye week.
Kelly said Wednesday the Tigers have seen progress in Nussmeier’s mobility after being bothered by a torso injury, enough so that he’ll be the starter when No. 3 LSU welcomes Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday.
“I think he needs to play, and Garrett wants to play,” Kelly said. “He’s capable of playing. As I said, the torso injury slowed him up and it slowed up, in some instances, the development of the offense because we needed to be very careful with him.”
A projected first-round draft prospect in 2026, Nussmeier was placed on a load management program during fall camp after developing discomfort. Kelly said the injury was likely a byproduct of the amount of throwing Nussmeier did in preseason training.
He hasn’t missed a snap in LSU’s three games in 2025, which includes wins over Clemson and Florida. He has three touchdowns, two interceptions and completed 65.1 percent of his passes for 689 yards this season while Kelly trimmed back on downfield passing and limited his practice time. He has four completions on passes 20-plus yards in the air and nine incompletions.
Saturday’s game represents a final tuneup for the lagging offense and Nussmeier. The Tigers play No. 13 Ole Miss before their bye week Oct. 4.
“This week is an opportunity for him,” Kelly said. “He’s doing some things in practice he hasn’t done in the last month. We’re pretty excited about what he could do this weekend.”
