LSU's Clyde Edwards-Helaire Injures Hamstring; Status for Peach Bowl Uncertain
LSU junior running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire suffered a hamstring injury during the No. 1 Tigers' practice on Tuesday, head coach Ed Orgeron told reporters on Wednesday.
"He went through some tests today," Orgeron disclosed. "We'll know a little bit more at the end of the week."
Edwards-Helaire was seen in street clothes watching the running backs practice:
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Orgeron did not know whether the 20-year-old will be able to play in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 28 when the undefeated Tigers will face off with No. 4 Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff semifinal at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Edwards-Helaire has had a stellar season in the backfield with Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Joe Burrow with 1,290 yards and 16 touchdowns on 197 rushing attempts as well as 399 yards and one touchdown as a receiver.
Perhaps Edwards-Helaire's most memorable game came when LSU defeated Alabama for the first time since 2011 on Nov. 9. He tallied 103 yards and three touchdowns on 20 rushing attempts, also catching nine passes for 77 yards and a touchdown.
The Baton Rouge native recorded six 100-yard rushing games this season overall.
The Tigers' next most productive rusher has been Burrow, who had 289 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. The Tigers will need Burrow's record-setting arm the most, though, especially if Edwards-Helaire is forced out.
Burrow led the Tigers to the top-ranked total offense (554.4 yards per game) and third-ranked scoring offense (47.8 points per game).
Losing Edwards-Helaire against the Sooners could hurt LSU especially, though. Even with Edwards-Helaire carrying the ball, LSU was just the 62nd-best FBS rushing offense at 167.5 yards per game compared to Oklahoma's 12th-best (251.2).
If Edwards-Helaire can't go, Orgeron will likely give more carries to Tyrion Davis-Price. The freshman back rushed for 270 yards and six touchdowns across 13 games so far this season.
LSU and OU will kick off at 3 p.m. EST on ESPN.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
