LSU’s defense took a major hit in the loss, with junior Star defender Spears reportedly dealing with a season-ending knee injury.
Spears went down early in the second quarter after an LSU defender was blocked into his lower left leg. Trainers worked on him on the field before helping him limp to the sideline and into the injury tent. He was later seen on crutches, the same scene surrounding Trey’Dez Green, the Tigers’ tight end, who learned Sunday through an MRI that he had avoided ligament damage in the right knee he injured Saturday, according to a Facebook post from his mother.
On Sunday, coach Lane Kiffin did not give a timeline for either player.
“We don't know that for sure yet or comment on that this early in the week,” Kiffin said. “Both guys, obviously, didn't return. They're both on crutches, so not ideal, that's for sure.”
Kiffin had already said Saturday that neither Spears nor Green “seemed very well” after the game.
Spears, a Denham Springs native, came into college as a top-100 national recruit, according to 247Sports composite rankings. He worked his way into a rotational role in Blake Baker’s defense by his sophomore season, and this year he had become a full-time starter at Star, the hybrid safety-linebacker spot Harold Perkins played last season.
Before the injury, Spears had put together a solid start to 2026 after a productive 2025. Last year he finished with 29 tackles and two interceptions, then opened this season with five tackles and a tackle for loss across LSU’s first two games, both lopsided wins over Clemson and Louisiana Tech.
LSU turned to two young defensive backs to handle the Star role after Spears exited, first sophomore CJ Jimcoily and then redshirt freshman Jhase Thomas. Green’s absence also forced the Tigers to shuffle at tight end, with Zach Grace, Malachi Thomas and Roman Mothershed all getting turns in his place. His mother said he would miss “some games” because of “some bad sprains and bruises.”
Kiffin described Spears and Green as “two of our most dynamic, irreplaceable players in what they do.”
“Both walking around and on crutches today,” he said, “it wasn't a great feeling.”
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