Harold Perkins injury update: Will LSU LB play for the remainder of the season?
LSU Tigers outside linebacker Harold Perkins is done for the season, as a report from Matt Zenitz indicates that he suffered a torn ACL in his knee. The injury took place in the team's win against the UCLA Bruins on Saturday.
While making a tackle in the fourth quarter, Perkins injured his right knee. After the 34-17 win, coach Brian Kelly updated that the player would undergo diagnostic testing on his knee.
“He’s injured,” Kelly said in his post-game press conference. “We don’t know. I mean, we’ll do all the diagnostic testing tonight and tomorrow and well have a better answer.”
What happened to Harold Perkins?
In the fourth quarter, Harold Perkins attempted to tackle UCLA’s Jalen Berger on a third-and-35 play before going down. He was walked off the field by LSU's medical staff and subsequent imaging on Sunday revealed the worst.
Perkins will join senior defensive lineman Jacobian Guillory, who tore his Achilles tendon in the home opener against Nicholls State. Without Perkins, LSU will be struggling for depth and notable names on defense.
Harold Perkins, a junior linebacker who was first-team All-SEC honors as a freshman in 2022, made two tackles in the game. For the season, he made 17 tackles, which includes 1.5 for loss and a fumble recovery in four games.
In his career, Perkins has amassed 164 total tackles, 27.5 for a loss, 13 sacks, nine pass breakups, seven forced fumbles, and two interceptions.
Brian Kelly's LSU registers a comfortable win over UCLA
The LSU Tigers were leading 31-17 when Perkins exited the game. By then, the No. 16 Tigers were already en route to their third win of the season, as they continued to bounce back from their season-opening loss to the USC Trojans.
Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was the best performer of the game, throwing for 352 yards, including three touchdown passes on 32-of-44 attempts. Moreover, LSU dominated in the running game, accumulating 102 yards as opposed to the Bruins' 14 rushing yards.
They converted 10/15 third downs as opposed to Bruins' 5/12 third down conversions. Put in notion, LSU were better in all aspects of the game.
The only thing that they'll miss will be Harold Perkins, who is ruled out of the season.