LSU's Watkins Plays Through Torn Thumb Ligament
The LSU wide receiver has played three games with the injury and spoke publicly about it for the first time on a radio show.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Football
LSU wide receiver Winnie Watkins Jr. has played three games with a torn ligament in his right thumb, which he suffered at Kentucky on Oct. 10. Watkins leads the Tigers with 37 receptions and has never missed time or appeared on the SEC availability reports.
Why it matters
Watkins is the team's second-leading receiver by yardage, so his ability to play through the injury affects LSU's passing game as it prepares to host Alabama. His first public comments on the injury also clarify how it has been managed through the season.
Watkins caught six passes for 62 yards at Kentucky and has 37 receptions this season, leading the team. His recovery is expected to take a couple of weeks, according to his own projection.
The players
Winnie Watkins Jr.
LSU wide receiver who leads the Tigers in receptions and has played through a torn thumb ligament this season.
Jackson Harris
LSU receiver who leads the team in receiving yards with 634 on 36 catches and seven touchdowns.
The details
Watkins was catching a pass when a defensive back missed the ball and ripped at his thumb, causing a burning sensation when the thumb was bent back. He has not been made available during LSU's Tuesday player interviews.
Timeline
Oct. 10: Watkins tears thumb ligament at Kentucky.
Saturday: LSU hosts Alabama at 2:30 p.m. in Baton Rouge.
Roadmap
Watkins's injury sits alongside Trey'Dez Green's knee injury at Ole Miss earlier in the season, showing how LSU's receiving group has absorbed multiple in-season setbacks. The team's ability to keep its top targets on the field will shape how its passing game holds up in the back half of the schedule.
Watkins's availability for Saturday's game will determine how LSU distributes targets between him and Jackson Harris in the passing game. Fantasy managers tracking the Tigers' receivers should watch the Alabama game-day status before setting lineups.
The takeaway
Injuries that players play through often matter most in the weeks after the initial hit, so monitoring game-day reports is the most reliable way to track how a receiver's role may change. Checking official team availability updates before the Alabama game will show whether Watkins's thumb is affecting his workload.
What happens next
LSU hosts Alabama at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, the next scheduled checkpoint for Watkins's availability.
Further reading
Keep up with the latest Baton Rouge Football coverage and LSU game updates.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TigerRag.com - The Bible of LSU Sports.
