LSU moved to 2-0 with a 23-7 win over Louisiana Tech at Tiger Stadium on Saturday night. The win was underwhelming for many reasons, as the Tigers didn't put together a solid all-around effort and kept the game closer than fans were hoping. To make matters worse, LSU suffered some key personnel losses in the contest.
One the first play from scrimmage, starting center Braelin Moore went down with a lower body injury. The 6-foot-2, 300-pound center got rolled up on, and left the game and didn't return. He was able to walk off the field under his own power, but the injury left Tigers fans concerned, as Moore plays a key role on LSU's new-look offensive line. On Monday, Brian Kelly shared an update on Moore's status heading into this weekend's SEC opener against Florida.
Braelin Moore injury update
Speaking with the media on Monday, Kelly stated that Moore is listed as day-to-day with a sprained left ankle. He said that the MRI was positive and that it didn't give a true sense of a high ankle sprain. For now, Moore is listed as questionable for Saturday's game against Florida, but Kelly noted that his status could be upgraded to probable later this week, depending on how Moore progresses during the week. Kelly said that Moore felt better on Monday and is slated to return to practice on Tuesday.
Moore transferred to LSU following three seasons at Virginia Tech where he was a starter over the last two seasons. He's already made a strong impact in Baton Rouge, as he was named the SEC's Offensive Lineman of the Week for his impressive Week 1 performane against Clemson. Moore played a vital role in holding Clemson's vaunted pass rush to just one sack in LSU's 17-10 victory.
Moore's absence was immediately felt against Louisiana Tech, as LSU struggled to run the ball throughout the game following his departure. The Tigers looked out of sync offensively as a whole, something that needs to be corrected ahead of SEC play.
DJ Chester replaced Moore at center for the rest of the game against Louisiana Tech. Chester, a redshirt sophomore, started all 13 games at center for LSU last season, earning Freshman All-SEC honors. He figures to get the starting nod if Moore is unable to go this Saturday.