Brian Kelly and LSU are off this week, and will soon focus on Alabama next week.

On the SEC coaches media teleconference, Kelly updated the injury situations for Major Burns, Jack Bech and John Emery.

“Major will be non-contact for the rest of the week and then he’ll be cleared on Monday. … He is in the game plan to play against Alabama. Jack is going to stay around here all week and prepare. … I asked him what his plans were for the Alabama game and he said ‘There’s no doubt I’ll be playing.’ … Emery has the Achilles strain, so he’s probably day-to-day.”

Kelly also likes Jay Ward’s development.

“Jay Ward’s been around the football. He and Sage have been playing the nickel for us. … He’s an outstanding football player and we love his ability to get out there and impact the game. He’s an outstanding tackler and that’s probably his biggest strength.”

Asked if Kelly is surprised with how good LSU has been already this season, he expected LSU to having something to play for late in the season.

“I don’t know if ‘surprise’ is the right word. When you take over a job and you know that there’s challenges, you don’t know how your team is going to get to that level quick enough,” Kelly said. “… I never looked at it as well I’ll be surprised if we get to November and are playing meaningful games. They were all going to be meaningful in some sense. I think what is surprising is how quickly these guys have adjusted to what we’re doing.”