The LSU secondary was shredded for an SEC-record 623 yards against Mississippi State, but a key reinforcement appears to be on the way.

Preseason All-American cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. missed the opening game after being rushed to the hospital for an undisclosed illness but appears to already be a full go on the practice field.

“I’m glad that he’s back, and he’s healthy,” LSU safety JaCoby Stevens said on a Tuesday teleconference. “He’s ready to go. I mean, yesterday he was running around during individual [portions of practice] and being Derek.”

Earlier in the day Derek Stingley Sr. appeared on the Baton Rouge-based ESPN 104.5 FM radio show “Off The Bench” to discuss the status of his son and that the LSU cornerback was “back to normal.”

Stingley was released from the hospital Saturday night.

“It’s always scary for a teammate to have to go to the hospital all of a sudden,” Stevens said. “Or just anybody in general, so to see him back with a smile on his face and back healthy and participating in practice is always a good thing to see.”

The No. 20 LSU defense looks to bounce back with a game at Vanderbilt on Saturday night.