With the LSU football team’s home opener just two days away, the Tigers might be without one of their most reliable offensive weapons for the third-straight game.
 
LSU coach Les Miles said Wednesday that junior tight end Deangelo Peterson could be a game-time decision for Saturday’s Southeastern Conference battle with Mississippi State.
 
Peterson practiced Wednesday but has still not practiced at full contact.
 
“Deangelo ran hard [Wednesday] in pads,” Miles said. “We’d like to get him back feeling good. The work he did went well. He might be a game-time decision, but I’m not pressing it.”
 
Peterson has yet to play this season after injuring his ankle Aug. 31 in practice. The 6-foot-4-inch, 243-pound tight end  hauled in five passes for 82 yards and two touchdowns as a sophomore and was expected to be one of junior quarterback Jordan Jefferson’s top targets in the passing game this season.
 
Junior tight end Mitch Joseph has filled in for Peterson in the first two games and is second on the team with four catches for 51 yards.
 
Sophomore Chase Clement has also seen increased reps at tight end.
 
“We’re enjoying the guys that are getting the work right now,” Miles said.
 
Miles also said senior running back Richard Murphy will return to practice today. Murphy missed a portion of the week with a hamstring injury he suffered in the third quarter of last weekend’s game at Vanderbilt.
 
“He’s run and done some rehabilitative work,” Miles said. “He’ll have the opportunity to practice [today].”
 
If Murphy’s hamstring is still an issue Saturday, fans can expect to see a heavy dose of true freshman running backs Alfred Blue and Spencer Ware and possibly redshirt freshman Michael Ford.
 
Blue had 23 yards and a touchdown against Vanderbilt in his first career action.
 
Jefferson, who has been the talk of the week after his performance against Vanderbilt, has practiced well, according to Miles.
 
Miles said he and offensive coordinator Gary Crowton have no intention of simplifying the offense for Jefferson after one bad game against Vanderbilt.
 
“I don’t think there’s a lot of calls we’re putting in,” Miles said. “I think he’s going to be really comfortable with the calls. We haven’t eliminated anything. We think he’ll be more familiar.”
 
After the possibility of junior quarterback Jarrett Lee seeing snaps this Saturday was discussed after the Vanderbilt game, Miles has stuck by Jefferson.
 
He made clear Jefferson was his guy Monday during his weekly luncheon and further endorsed him Wednesday.
 
“There’s a real reason to feel like he’ll be excellent,” Miles said Wednesday.
 
With all the talk of Jefferson, little has been mentioned about the Tigers returning to Death Valley for the first time in 10 months.
 
This weekend is the first time for high school recruits to visit LSU and get a feel for what Saturday night in Death Valley is like.
 
Miles anticipates about 50 prospects will be in attendance and hopes the crowd will be its normal loud and rambunctious self.
 
“The home crowd environment, the gameday environment at Tiger Stadium is like none other,” he said. “Our guys, our team looks forward to playing. We should have … a celebration of great effort and enthusiasm. We’re looking forward to it very much.”
 
 
 
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Contact Sean Isabella at [email protected]