Kamario Taylor, Fluff Bothwell get new injury status as Mississippi State prepares for LSU
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Kamario Taylor and Fluff Bothwell, Mississippi State‘s star quarterback and running back, were both downgraded to doubtful in Friday night’s SEC injury report for Saturday afternoon’s ranked matchup at LSU.
ESPN insider Pete Thamel reported on Friday night that both players were set to be downgraded, and that report was confirmed a short time later when the Friday night injury report was revealed. Thamel also reported that Taylor “is not expected to play at LSU tomorrow,” which would be a huge blow to the 16th-ranked Bulldogs (4-1, 2-1 SEC) as they try to take down the 22nd-ranked Tigers (4-2, 1-2 SEC) at Death Valley (noon ET, ESPN).
According to Thamel’s report, Taylor “continues to deal with a foot injury/turf toe that he suffered in the Missouri game on Sept. 26.”
Earlier on Friday, On3 insider Pete Nakos reported that Taylor was still “working to play” in Saturday’s game, but things have apparently taken a turn for the worse with Taylor’s doubtful designation and Thamel’s report about Taylor’s gameday status for Week 7.
Thamel added in his report that Taylor was “clearly hobbled” during Mississippi State’s loss to Alabama on Oct. 3, which preceded a bye week for the Bulldogs. As Thamel noted, Taylor is the SEC’s second-highest rated passer behind Georgia star Gunner Stockton, so being without Taylor would obviously be a huge blow to Mississippi State’s chances.
Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Taylor might not be the only offensive star who is missing on Saturday, with Bothwell also being downgraded to doubtful on Friday night.
Bothwell is dealing with a lower-body injury, according to Thamel’s report, after he was forced to leave the Alabama game following the contest’s first drive.
Mississippi State might be severely up against it with Taylor and Bothwell potentially both missing from the lineup on Saturday. Here is what the Kalshi market is currently saying about the Bulldogs’ chances to pull a shocker and beat LSU in Death Valley, with or without their 2 stars:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
