LSU is not far from heading west to open the season, USC in Las Vegas. The Tigers are currently completing their fall training camp and, as with every team, there were a few injuries. Wide Receiver Chris Hilton is the latest, does not participate in the latest practice.
Brian Kelly gave his initial diagnosis of Hilton’s injury, saying it was an ankle problem. Fortunately, Kelly doesn’t think there will be any long-term problems. Sitting Hilton out was a suggestion by the training staff to be overly cautious.
“I think he’ll be OK,” Kelly said Saturday. “It was an ankle. (LSU coach) Owen (Stanley) talked to me afterward and said, ‘I think it would be best if we keep him out.’ It didn’t appear to be a high ankle or anything that would affect him long-term. Right now, it’s more of a precautionary ankle injury.”
Unfortunately, injuries are nothing new for Hilton. He has been hampered by several since arriving in Baton Rouge and has only played in 19 games in his fourth season of college football. When he did play, Hilton was productive, catching 22 passes for 415 yards and three touchdowns.
Staying healthy will certainly be the receiver’s top priority, but he is expected to take on a larger role at LSU in 2024. Replacing players who are now in the NFL is one of the biggest question marks on the Tigers’ offense entering the season.
Offensive Coordinator Joe Sloan is certainly high on the list of what Hilton can contribute, called him an “elite” player.
“Chris Hilton and everything he’s been through in his past in terms of injuries and the really complete receiver he’s become,” Sloan said in early August. “I think you saw that in the spring, right? A lot of things he can do, I couldn’t be more excited about him and what he brings to the table. He’s a special guy, he’s elite.”
Hilton will catch passes from Garrett Nussmeier another new face in a starting position this fall. The expectation is for LSU to maintain its status as an elite offense, even with a significant number of departures. Ensuring someone like Hilton is healthy and contributing would go a long way toward achieving those goals.
An ankle injury is bothering him at the moment, but with less than two weeks to go before LSU’s season-opening game against the USC Trojans, Kelly is not worried.
