LSU junior running back Leonard Fournette is expected to return to the playing field on Saturday against No. 23 Ole Miss.
Fournette practiced on Monday for the first time since re-aggravating his ankle against Auburn on Sept. 24.
“It’s a big lift to get Leonard back obviously,” LSU quarterback Danny Etling said. “He’s had a couple of weeks off and he’s getting healthy. He looks good in practice and everything, so I think he’ll ride a boost for us even more so.”
Fournette ran through full-team drills and looked healthy for the most part. He took first-team snaps during period 2 of Monday’s 30-minute practice.
“Leonard Fournette is Leonard Fournette,” LSU center Ethan Pocic said. “Y’all know just as well as me what he can do. It’s good to have him back.”
Fournette has missed a total of three games this year due to injury. He suffered a high ankle sprain in preseason camp and re-injured it in a season-opening loss to Wisconsin. He has missed LSU’s previous two games against Missouri and Southern Miss.
Sophomore running back Derrius Guice has started in Fournette’s absence. He leads the team in rushing this year with 564 yards and 6 touchdowns. 
LSU interim coach Ed Orgeron said he expects both running backs to play on Saturday.
“We want to rotate our guys,” Orgeron said. “We want them to keep fresh. There might be a possibility of putting them both in the backfield at the same time. I think it’s a positive that we have them there.”
Even with Fournette on the sideline, his teammates say he’s been a vocal part of their performance this season.
“He’s always involved in the games,” Etling said. “He’s always giving everyone feedback on what he sees. He stays involved all the time and that’s credit to him as a football player.”
Orgeron said Fournette’s injury has been both physically and mentally tough for him. But through it all, he’s been honest about his health. 
LSU’s offense will get its best player back just in time for the most difficult part of its schedule. But how healthy Fournette actually is remains to be seen.
“He’s going to tell me, ‘Hey coach, I’m 100 percent, 80 percent, 90 percent,'” Orgeron said. “We’re going to run the plays that he’s able to run.”