LSU DT Bernard Gooden could be out (again) with an injury

LSU starting defensive tackle Bernard Gooden may not be able to play for a second week in a row as the Tigers prep for No. 3 Texas A&M.

Gooden, who transferred to LSU from South Florida this offseason, has been one of the top players on a defense that has been the team’s strength across a 5-2 start to the 2025 season.

The veteran defensive tackle missed LSU’s game against Vanderbilt in Nashville after suffering a bruised collarbone in the win over South Carolina the week prior.

Two weeks after being injured, Gooden has slowly worked his way back ahead of Saturday’s matchup with undefeated Texas A&M.

On Wednesday night, Gooden was listed as “questionable” on the SEC Injury Report as the Tigers prepare for the weekend’s home game against the undefeated Aggies.

“Gooden practiced (Tuesday),” LSU head coach Brian Kelly said on Wednesday’s SEC Coaches Teleconference. “He didn’t get involved in everything, but we wanted to bring him along slowly so he got some individual, got some team reps.

The 6-foot-1, 270-pound Gooden has 13 total tackles, three for loss, and 1 1/2 sacks while starting five of six games this season.

With Gooden sidelined in the loss to the Commodores, LSU kept Dominick McKinley as one starting defensive tackle and turned to a handful of backup defensive tackles to fill the void left by Gooden.

Beyond McKinley’s 39 snaps played, senior Jacobian Guillory and sophomore Ahmad Breaux Breaux saw the lion’s share of reps with 35 and 39 snaps played, respectively. True freshman Buddy Mathis played 19 snaps, while junior Shone Washington was on the field for seven snaps.