Kamario Taylor, Fluff Bothwell questionable vs. LSU

On3 had this one before the report came out. Pete Nakos and Chris Low said Wednesday afternoon that both Bulldogs starters would be listed questionable, and a few hours later they were.

Pete Nakos

@PeteNakos

Mississippi State QB Kamario Taylor remains day to day and is expected to be listed as questionable on the first availability report tonight ahead of Saturday vs. LSU, sources tell @Clowfb and me for @On3. RB Fluff Bothwell is also expected to be listed as questionable.

The SEC report backed up that reporting exactly. Taylor is questionable. Bothwell is questionable. Mississippi State still doesn't know if its 2 most important offensive players will be in Baton Rouge, and nobody betting the LSU line knows either.

Pete Thamel

@PeteThamel

Both QB Kamario Taylor and RB Fluff Bothwell are questionable for Mississippi State.

The injury isn't new. Taylor first hurt his foot in the 31-24 win over Missouri on Sept. 27 and played through it. Then came Alabama on Oct. 3. He was visibly hurting all day and went to the locker room early in the 4th quarter of a 56-23 loss. Before that game he'd been playing like a Heisman contender. Taylor and Bothwell both left that game wearing protective boots.

Pete Thamel had the first warning Monday night: Taylor's status was in flux, the decision would wait until later in the week, and he'd been limited in practice since Alabama.

Pete Thamel

@PeteThamel

Sources: Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor’s status for the game at LSU on Saturday is in flux. A decision on whether he’ll play will be made later in the week. He’s dealing with a foot injury from earlier this year that clearly impacted him against Alabama on Oct. 3.

The program hasn't said much about what the injury actually is. Yahoo's report calls it an undisclosed lower-leg injury. Chris Low, who co-reported the On3 story, called it turf toe, and anyone who has watched a QB try to plant and throw on turf toe knows how that usually goes. Low's own point is that rest matters most, and a short week doesn't allow much of it.

Chris Low

@Clowfb

Turf toe injuries are tough to come back from in a short period of time and rest is paramount, but K1 is a tough kid. More will be known as the week progresses.

Pete Nakos

@PeteNakos

Shared the latest we know on Mississippi State QB Kamario Taylor and what he's working through ahead of LSU: t.co/fnTIWj8OAn t.co/SPw208rQVZ

There's more on the injury report than those 2 names. Linebacker Jalen Smith, who also got hurt against Alabama, is out. Fellow linebacker Zakari Tillman is doubtful. Defensive linemen Diesel Moye and Trevion Williams and receiver Ayden Williams are out too. LSU has its own problems: Whit Weeks, Trey'Dez Green and Dashawn Spears are all listed out.

Mississippi State comes in 4-1 and 2-1 in the SEC. LSU is 4-2 and 1-2 in the league, so both teams badly need this one. Kickoff is 11 a.m. CT Saturday on ESPN. The next availability reports will show which way this is going. If Taylor gets upgraded, State has a real chance in Death Valley. If he doesn't, the Bulldogs start a backup QB in one of the toughest road environments in the sport.