LSU’s first SEC availability report for Texas A&M offered a mixed bag Wednesday night, with a couple of defensive backs landing on the list and one name notably absent.
Safety Tamarcus Cooley was tagged as questionable, while cornerback Ja’Keem Jackson showed up as doubtful. Jackson made one of the bigger plays in last Saturday’s game at Ole Miss, picking off a pass, so his status bears watching as the week goes on.
The Tigers also had the expected names listed out: tight end Trey’Dez Green, safety Dashawn Spears and receiver Phillip Wright. Lane Kiffin has already said Wright is among a handful of Tigers done for the season because of an injury. Spears is also reportedly out for the year with a torn ACL, though Kiffin has not directly confirmed that or addressed Green’s timetable.
Green hurt his knee at Ole Miss, but according to a Facebook post from his mother, he did not suffer any ligament tears.
Cooley’s potential absence would be a concern after he posted a season-high five tackles and a pass breakup against Ole Miss. If he can’t go Saturday against Texas A&M, LSU would be thinner at safety after Spears’ injury. Jackson, meanwhile, is the top backup corner behind DJ Pickett and PJ Woodland.
Still, Wednesday’s report is just the opening snapshot, and it’s worth remembering how quickly things can change. Kiffin listed Sam Leavitt as “doubtful” for the Ole Miss game after the quarterback reportedly missed a Wednesday practice, then Leavitt moved to questionable on Thursday and disappeared from the report entirely on Friday.
He ended up playing the full game last Saturday and didn’t look limited. Now he’s not on this week’s first report at all.
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