INDIANAPOLIS — LSU quarterback Derek Stingley Jr. gave a specific answer Saturday as to why his 2021 season ended in September and why he won’t be working Saturday night at the NFL’s scouting combine.
Stingley, who is Todd McShay’s seventh overall pick in the draft and second cornerback, as well as Mel Kiper Jr.’s sixth overall, said Saturday morning that he had a torn ligament in his left foot — a Lisfranc injury. – ahead of LSU’s Week 4 game against Mississippi State last season and underwent surgery on September 26.
“Right now, my rehab is ahead of schedule,” Stingley said. “…I walk at a pace to do what I have to do on a professional day.”
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Stingley said he’s been given a “four to six month” recovery schedule and will not participate in the field work that defensemen do Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
LSU Pro Day is scheduled for April 6, one of the last professional days on campus next month.
“I’m almost close to 100 percent, starting to run right now, starting to do a couple of plants, breaking downhill, that’s really where I’m at,” Stingley said.
Asked if any teams raised concerns about his leg during interviews at the mill, Stingley replied, “None.”
Human resources officials initially expressed hope they would see Stingley training at the mill in recent weeks, but it is believed that on Saturday, Stingley spoke publicly for the first time about the severity of his foot injury.
In terms of football, many league talent evaluators say Stingley’s best season at LSU was in 2019, when, as a true freshman, he was on the All American second team, All SEC first team, and SEC Rookie of the Year with six steals. and 21 passes protected. Stingley had no interceptions in either the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season or the three games he played last season.
Despite all this, Stingley said he still considers himself the best cornerback in this draft.
“Because I know myself and I know that when I’m at my best, I’m the greatest,” Stingley said.