Myles Brennan hasn’t played since Oct. 10.

He’s not likely to play again this season.

LSU coach Ed Orgeron has said his starting quarterback probably won’t play again and might need surgery to fix an abdominal injury Brennan suffered in a loss to Missouri.

The 2-3 Tigers have nothing to gain by putting Brennan back on the field against Arkansas next Saturday, or against Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Florida or Alabama, if that COVID-19 casualty of a game ever gets rescheduled.

This is a transition season for LSU, from their historic 2019 to whatever 2021 brings — probably not anything as special or as memorable as 2019, but perhaps not as forgettable as 2020.

The Tigers still have games to play and things to accomplish this season. But they also can use what remains as a springboard to next season.

They’re not going to play for a national championship or an SEC championship. They might not even be going to a bowl game.

Perhaps they can set their sights higher next season.

Brennan is a 4th-year junior. He’s backed up by a pair of true freshmen — TJ Finley and Max Johnson.

LSU has 4 or 5 more games this season even if they don’t go to a bowl game. They have an opportunity to take a good look at both freshmen.

Finley edged out Johnson in a battle during practice to start the 1st game in Brennan’s absence. Finley played very well in a 52-24 victory against South Carolina, leaving only mop-up duty for Johnson.

But Finley played poorly in his next start, turning the ball over 3 times and getting benched early in the 3rd quarter against Auburn. This time, Johnson mopped up a lopsided loss instead of a lopsided win and produced the Tigers’ only touchdown in a 48-11 loss.

That led Orgeron to revive the competition to see who would be the starter in Brennan’s continued absence.

The 2 freshmen have continued to compete in practice. The lack of progress in Brennan’s recovery and the postponement of the Alabama game give offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger and passing game coordinator Scott Linehan an opportunity to tailor the playbook and the game plan to extend the competition into game conditions.

That competition should continue until whenever and wherever this season ends.

Both Finley and Johnson are big and have strong arms. Neither is an exceptional runner, but both seem capable.

Finley had success running power running plays against South Carolina, and Johnson has shown quick enough feet to be elusive. Neither is going to dominate as a runner, but both can be utilized as ball carriers in different ways.

LSU cannot salvage a whole lot from what remains of this season. But one thing they can achieve is a much more educated understanding of what they have to work with at quarterback.

Brennan played well before being injured, and Orgeron said he would have remained the starter had he returned to health. He should be, and presumably will be, No. 1 on the depth chart whenever he does get healthy — whether that’s in the spring or preseason camp next summer.

But it’s not out of the question that one of the freshmen could prove to be the quarterback who gives the 2021 Tigers the highest ceiling.

The game conditions that remain this season will accelerate the development of both, and it will better inform the coaching staff of exactly what the competition should look like in 2021.

While Brennan heals, Finley and Johnson will direct whatever remains of this season. But just as importantly, they can start the competition for the 2021 starter’s job.