LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt is dealing with soreness in his throwing shoulder ahead of the Tigers’ September 19, 2026 game against Ole Miss.
LSU has not publicly announced a more specific diagnosis, such as a sprain, strain or structural injury. The school’s official SEC availability designation lists Leavitt as doubtful, while multiple reports say the shoulder problem has affected his ability to practice.
What Is Sam Leavitt’s Injury?
Leavitt has a sore throwing shoulder, according to reporting cited by Reuters. CBS Sports separately reported that Leavitt is dealing with an upper-body injury and did not throw during LSU’s Wednesday practice.
The available reporting does not identify a specific damaged muscle, tendon, ligament or joint. For that reason, the injury is best described as a reported sore throwing shoulder, rather than a more specific medical diagnosis. [Reuters] [CBS Sports]
Will Sam Leavitt Play Against Ole Miss?
LSU listed Leavitt as doubtful on the initial SEC availability report for the Tigers’ game against Ole Miss.
Under the SEC’s availability-reporting system, “doubtful” means a player is considered unlikely to participate and corresponds to a 25% chance to play. That designation can change on later reports if a player’s condition improves or worsens. [SEC] [SEC Availability Policy]
As of September 17, LSU had not ruled Leavitt out.
When Did Sam Leavitt Hurt His Shoulder?
It is not publicly known exactly when or how Leavitt injured his shoulder.
Leavitt played in LSU’s 45-14 victory over Louisiana Tech on September 12 and did not leave the game because of an apparent injury. He completed 25 of 38 passes for 344 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions before LSU eventually went to its backup with the game under control.
The shoulder problem became public when Leavitt appeared as doubtful on LSU’s Wednesday SEC availability report. CBS Sports reported that he did not throw during that day’s practice. [CBS Sports] [Yahoo Sports]
There has been no confirmed public report establishing whether the injury occurred against Louisiana Tech, developed afterward or occurred during practice.
Has Sam Leavitt Been Practicing?
Leavitt’s workload has been affected by the injury.
Reporting from On3’s Pete Nakos, cited by multiple outlets, said Leavitt had been limited in practice because of soreness in his throwing shoulder. CBS Sports reported that he did not throw during Wednesday’s practice. [Reuters] [CBS Sports]
That practice limitation is particularly significant for a quarterback because the affected shoulder is Leavitt’s throwing shoulder.
How Long Will Sam Leavitt Be Out?
There is no announced recovery timetable.
LSU has not said that Leavitt will miss a specific number of games, and he has not been ruled out for the Ole Miss game. His doubtful designation applies to his current availability for that matchup rather than establishing a longer-term absence.
More information should come from LSU’s subsequent SEC availability reports and its final game-day designation.
Is This The Same Injury Sam Leavitt Had At Arizona State?
No. Leavitt’s current problem involves his throwing shoulder, while the injury that ended his 2025 season at Arizona State involved his right foot.
Leavitt suffered a Lisfranc injury during the 2025 season and underwent surgery after his season ended. He later had a follow-up procedure to remove hardware from the foot and missed significant offseason work while recovering.
By August 2026, Leavitt said that he was fully recovered from the foot injury and had been at 100% for months. [CBS Sports]
There has been no reporting connecting that previous foot injury to his current shoulder problem.
How Has Sam Leavitt Played For LSU In 2026?
Through LSU’s first two games of the 2026 season, Leavitt completed 41 of 66 passes for 574 yards, two passing touchdowns and four interceptions.
He also remained a significant running threat, producing 135 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns through those two games. [Reuters]
Leavitt opened his LSU career with 230 passing yards, 113 rushing yards and three total touchdowns in a 51-10 victory over Clemson. The SEC named him its Offensive Player of the Week following that performance. [LSU]
Who Is LSU’s Backup Quarterback If Sam Leavitt Cannot Play?
LSU’s quarterback room behind Leavitt includes Husan Longstreet and Landen Clark.
Both are potential options if Leavitt is unable to play against Ole Miss. LSU had not officially announced a replacement starter as of September 17. [Reuters]
What Does “Doubtful” Mean On The SEC Injury Report?
The SEC requires teams to disclose player availability before conference games.
Before game day, the conference uses four primary injury or availability designations:
Out: The player will not play.
Doubtful: The player is unlikely to play, defined by the SEC as a 25% chance of participation.
Questionable: The player’s availability is uncertain, corresponding to a 50% chance.
Probable: The player is expected to play, corresponding to a 75% chance.
The designations can change as teams submit updated availability information closer to kickoff. [SEC Availability Policy]
Sam Leavitt Injury Summary
Sam Leavitt’s currently reported injury is soreness in his throwing shoulder.
LSU has not disclosed a more specific medical diagnosis. The quarterback has been limited in practice, did not throw during Wednesday’s session and is officially listed as doubtful for LSU’s September 19 game against Ole Miss.
There is currently no confirmed timetable for Leavitt’s full recovery and no confirmation of exactly when the shoulder problem began.
