Garrett Nussmeier’s Senior Bowl Hopes Hinge on Lingering Injury - But Don’t Count Him Out Yet
For Garrett Nussmeier, the Senior Bowl isn’t just another showcase - it’s a high-stakes job interview with all 32 NFL teams watching. But as he takes the field in Mobile, he’s doing it with a lingering abdominal injury that’s followed him since the start of his final season at LSU. And while he’s not at full strength, the week still offers a critical opportunity to remind scouts and decision-makers what he’s capable of when healthy.
Nussmeier admitted after his team’s first practice that he’s “getting there,” but isn’t 100% just yet. That’s not ideal, especially in a setting where every rep is scrutinized and every throw could shift a draft board. But the fact that he’s out there at all - competing, throwing, and meeting with teams - speaks to his drive and the urgency of the moment.
This injury has been a frustrating subplot in Nussmeier’s journey. It cropped up before the 2025 season even began, and for weeks, there was confusion about just how serious it was.
Once the games started, though, the difference was noticeable. The quarterback who once looked like a potential top-five pick and dark horse Heisman contender didn’t have the same pop in his game.
The arm strength that had been his calling card was suddenly muted. Deep throws?
Rare. Explosive plays?
Few and far between.
By season’s end, Nussmeier had been benched in favor of Michael Van Buren Jr. It was a tough pill to swallow for a fifth-year senior who had waited his turn and was supposed to be LSU’s next star under center.
Statistically, he completed a career-best 67.4% of his passes - a solid number on paper. But the rest of the production didn’t match the promise: 1,927 yards, 12 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
More than anything, it was the lack of big plays that stood out. Nussmeier’s game was built on pushing the ball downfield, but the injury turned him into a short-game distributor.
There were flashes, but not the kind that make NFL teams circle your name on the draft board.
Some of that falls on LSU’s offensive coordinator Joe Sloan, whose playcalling didn’t exactly help the situation. But it’s hard to separate the scheme from the injury - the two were clearly intertwined.
Sloan’s hands were tied by what Nussmeier could physically do, and Nussmeier was limited by what the offense asked of him. It wasn’t all on one person, but the end result was a season that fell well short of expectations.
Still, the door isn’t closed on Nussmeier’s NFL future. In fact, it might be cracking open again.
This year’s quarterback class isn’t deep, especially after some big names like Dante Moore opted to return to school. With more QB-needy teams than top-tier prospects, there’s a real opportunity for someone like Nussmeier to climb the ranks - if he can show flashes of the player he was before the injury.
Right now, Fernando Mendoza is the consensus favorite to go No. 1 overall, and Ty Simpson appears to have a firm grip on the QB2 spot. But after that?
It’s wide open. A strong showing in Mobile - even at less than full health - could vault Nussmeier into that next tier.
All it takes is one team to believe in the upside, to see the arm talent and leadership that made him a star-in-waiting at LSU.
And that’s where this week matters most. Beyond the practices and drills, Nussmeier will get face time with every NFL team.
He’s known as a smart, high-character guy - the kind of quarterback who can win over a front office in a meeting room just as easily as on the field. That part of the process could be just as important as anything he does on the turf.
There’s plenty of 2024 tape for teams to study, and a lot of it shows a quarterback who knows how to run an offense, make reads, and deliver in rhythm. The challenge now is proving that the injury hasn’t changed who he is - that the version of Nussmeier who lit up practices and flashed pro-level traits is still in there, waiting to be unlocked again.
He may not be at 100%, but Garrett Nussmeier’s story isn’t written yet. The Senior Bowl is his shot to take back control of the narrative - and if he can gut it out and make some noise, don’t be surprised if he climbs right back into the mix come draft day.