Advertisement

LSU CB and potential first-round 2022 NFL draft pick Derek Stingley Jr. out indefinitely after foot surgery

LSU is going to be without star cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. for the foreseeable future.

The school said Wednesday that Stingley had undergone foot surgery and there was no timetable for his return. Stingley, a former five-star recruit, is considered a possible first-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft.

“I appreciate all of the support from LSU and the fans,” Stingley said in a statement. “I’m doing all that I can to return to the field as soon as possible. I want to finish out the season with my teammates and I will do everything I can to get healthy so that I will be able to play again this year.”

While LSU didn't identify which foot Stingley had surgery on, he had previously been seen with a brace on his left foot.

Stingley has missed LSU’s last two games after he suffered a foot injury during practice. While he traveled with the team to its win at Mississippi State, he didn’t play in Starkville. He was sidelined against LSU’s loss at home to Auburn in Week 5.

Stingley was a consensus All-American as a freshman in 2019 when LSU won the national title after a 15-0 season. He had six interceptions and 15 passes defensed as a freshman in 15 games. He also totaled 38 tackles and recovered a fumble while returning 17 punts.

His ensuing two seasons have been marred by injuries. Stingley played in seven games in 2020 and had 27 tackles and no interceptions as teams didn’t throw in his direction. He has eight tackles in three games so far in 2021, though 3.5 of those stops have been tackles for loss.

Stingley wore No. 24 in his first two seasons at LSU before he switched to the famous No. 7 jersey ahead of 2021.

LSU is 3-2 ahead of Saturday's game at Kentucky. The Tigers are 3-point underdogs against the Wildcats and the UK is the second of six consecutive games against teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25.