February 27, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (QB13) speaks with media members at the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Image Garrett Nussmeier had two practices in the 2025 season in which the LSU starting quarterback was derailed all year.
Nussmeyer strained his oblique muscle, limiting his ability to make deep throws as well as pass without shooting pain.
Coach Brian Kelly did not fully disclose the nature of Nussmeier’s injury until he was pressed about his health. Kelly eventually shared more details, but was fired before the season ended.
“My injury happened on the second day of fall camp, the second day of fall camp practice. I think it’s pretty clear how much it affected me,” Nussmeier said of the impact his injury had on his performance. “I couldn’t really throw a soccer ball. Every time I threw it, I felt a stabbing pain in my stomach.”
Garrett Nussmeier, Saints offensive coordinator and son of former NFL quarterback Doug Nussmeier, threw for 7,699 yards with 52 touchdowns and 24 interceptions during his career with the Tigers.
LSU defeated him with 12 touchdowns and 5 interceptions with three games left in the 2025 regular season. It wasn’t the season he envisioned when considering whether to return to LSU after a groundbreaking 2024 campaign.
But he is starting to rebuild his case as the QB2 in the Senior Bowl’s 2026 draft class. One of his main competitors for that bill is Alabama’s SEC rival Ty Simpson. Simpson said he met with New York Jets supervisors, including head coach Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Frank Reich, and was pleased with their assessment of his talent.
The Jets hold the No. 2 pick in the draft, following the Las Vegas Raiders, who are widely expected to use the selection on Heisman Trophy winner and Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
It’s been a common debate whether there’s another QB in the draft class worth shipping in the first round. Simpson is the undisputed starter at Alabama after just one year.
“First of all, I feel like I’m ready. I’m a franchise quarterback,” Simpson said. “Alabama prepares the most for the NFL. The Alabama locker room is as close to an NFL locker room as you can get.”
In addition to proving his health, among the questions pro suitors have for Nussmeier are whether he can hold up in the NFL with his relatively small frame and whether he has the arm talent to be a QB1.
He said recovering from the injury in-season is impossible because rest and gradual rehabilitation are not possible while preparing for a game every seven days.
“It was a disappointing deal and it wasn’t LSU’s fault. It wasn’t the doctors’ fault. They took great care of me and the trainers there,” Nussmeier said. “It was just a rare deal. It was something we didn’t really know what it was until about two months ago.”
Nussmeier has largely recovered physically over the past month and has also regained core strength.
“I felt a lot more like myself, which was really exciting,” Nussmeier said. “Learning how to retrain, get rid of bad habits I’ve created, and be able to throw the football like I can.”
–Field level media
