LSU starting safety Greg Brooks continues to deal with what coach Brian Kelly again called Monday "a medical emergency," and he will not play this weekend against Arkansas.
Brooks, a fifth-year senior from Harvey, was not with the team during LSU's 41-14 win over Mississippi State because he?had a "medical emergency," Kelly said after the game.
"I don't have a lot that I can report on Greg," Kelly said Monday. "It is a family matter, so I'm not gonna speak on the family's behalf."
Kelly has not disclosed the nature of the issue, nor said when Brooks might come back. Kelly said again Monday he did not have a timeline for Brooks' return.
Brooks is one of LSU's best defensive players and a team captain. He transferred last year after?starting for three seasons at Arkansas, which LSU hosts at 6 p.m. Saturday.
In his first season with the Tigers, Brooks recorded 66 tackles, three tackles for loss, three pass breakups and two interceptions. He played in every game, starting 13 of them.
Perhaps the most versatile player in LSU's secondary, Brooks has experience at safety and nickel. With him out against Mississippi State, LSU started seventh-year senior André Sam and junior Major Burns at safety.
Redshirt sophomore Sage Ryan entered when LSU needed an extra defensive back, and freshman Ryan Yaites played on dime packages. Yaites made two tackles in the first significant action of his career.
"Ryan Yaites came in and played really well," Kelly said. "He was clean, he was disciplined in his alignments (and) he was assignment correct."
LSU generally uses five defensive backs against spread teams, but it has played three linebackers more often the last two games. LSU started junior Greg Penn and freshman Whit Weeks inside, letting Harold Perkins roam on the edges, with senior Omar Speights out against Mississippi State,
Kelly said Speights (hip flexor), tight end Mason Taylor (ankle) and edge rusher Ovie Oghoufo (ankle) are probable against the Razorbacks.