Louisiana football: QB Chandler Fields, RB Chris Smith available to play at Southern Miss
Heading into its nationally televised football showdown at rival Southern Miss, Louisiana will be the healthiest it's been in a few weeks.
Junior running back Chris Smith and sophomore quarterback Chandler Fields, who both missed the Marshall and Arkansas State games, will be available to play for the Ragin' Cajuns (4-3, 2-2 Sun Belt), head coach Michael Desormeaux told reporters during his press conference Monday.
It's unclear how much Fields, who's been dealing with an undisclosed upper body injury, or Smith, who's been out with a hamstring issue, will play. The pair will dress with the team.
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"Chandler is available this week. Our training staff feels very comfortable that if he needs to play, he can," Desormeaux said. "I talked to Chandler already about this, your concern is always that a guy that doesn't get contact during the week, especially this week when there's really not – reps are managed differently.
"He'll be the back up this week. Ben will play this game, especially on a short week when Chandler hasn't taken many reps, I don't think it would be wise for us to make any changes, in particularly the way that Ben's playing. Those are things you have to manage as a head coach, you have to do what's best for your team."
Desormeaux said Fields, who won the starting quarterback position during the preseason and started the first four games this year, has "been great" about the situation.
"He understands. He and Ben have tremendous respect for each other. This week, that's the way we're going to go about doing it," Desormeaux said. "The challenge is getting (Fields) back in the fit mentally. But I wouldn't want it to where he's not ready to play.
With Smith, Desormeaux thought Smith was going to be back for the Arkansas State early in the week but was unable to play.
"He's been day to day. But we're planning on him playing," Desormeaux said of Smith.
Louisiana running backs had their rushing performance of the season last Saturday against the Red Wolves with 206 yards on 50 carries.
Adding Smith back in with Jacob Kibodi, Terrence Williams and Dre'lyn Washington should be a boost heading into the game with Southern Miss (4-3, 2-1), who ranks 21st in the country in stopping the run, giving up 111 yards on the ground per game.
Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers and Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU/UL athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Louisiana football QB Chandler Fields available for Southern Miss game
