The LSU Tigers return to action this weekend when they face the Arkansas Razorbacks, and we could see TJ Finley take the reins once more.
After being off the last two weeks, it appears the freshman quarterback is on track to make his third career start in place of the injured Myles Brennan, per head coach Ed Orgeron.
“TJ (Finley) has taken the first team reps. Max (Johnson) hasn’t practiced in a week,” he told reporters on Monday. “We’re going to let him get back. We’ll see who’s the best guy available. Right now, it’s probably going to be TJ unless Max has a great week.”
Finley, who was terrific in his first start against South Carolina, struggled in the loss to Auburn on Halloween. He was replaced by a fellow freshman, Max Johnson, in the second half of that game.
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Orgeron commented on each of Finley’s starts — one of which was obviously much better than the other.
“I think the first game was perfect,” he said. “The second game, it all switched up on him.”
Ed Orgeron on TJ Finley's pair of starts: "I think the first game was perfect… the second game it all switched up on him."#LSU
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) November 16, 2020
Johnson was one of many Tigers who missed practice time last week due to the COVID-19 outbreak on the team. While Johnson didn’t test positive, he was one of several players placed in quarantine.
Orgeron didn’t rule out Johnson starting but made it pretty clear Finley would get the nod. Johnson would need to outperform Finley in practice this week.
LSU’s last win came on Oct. 24 against South Carolina.
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