Garrett Dellinger injury: Brian Kelly updates status of LSU guard for Alabama

Garrett Dellinger was originally ruled out for LSU’s game against Alabama on Saturday, per Brian Kelly during weekly media availability on Thursday night.

The Tigers’ left guard originally had a hand injury that required surgery and sidelined him against Auburn. He returned for the game against Tennessee but was forced to exit after injuring his knee in what was later ruled an MCL injury.

While the timeline for Dellinger’s return was put at 2 weeks after it originally happened, Kelly mentioned that he would rather not risk further injury to his sophomore offensive lineman by playing him against the Crimson Tide.

“I just made that decision (on Thursday),” the Tigers head coach said. “He’s better but I’m not going to put him in that position.”

However, during his weekly radio show, Kelly changed his tune on Dellinger’s availability after originally ruling him out, calling him a “game-time decision”:

Well, now Brian Kelly just said on @LSUradio Garrett Dellinger is “close” and will be a game-time decision. https://t.co/BzGxDA19zB

— Wilson Alexander (@whalexander_) November 4, 2022

After Alabama, LSU visits Arkansas on Nov. 12. We’ll see if Dellinger’s improvement means that he’ll be able to return to the lineup against the Razorbacks.

Sydney Hunte

Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.