Observations from LSU's return to practice

BATON ROUGE, La. -- LSU’s first practice leading up to its Fiesta Bowl game against UCF on Jan. 1 came and went, and no safeties were on hand.

First-year assistant Bill Busch was not spotted during Tuesday’s return to the field. Neither were starters Grant Delpit, John Battle or Todd Harrris Jr., as well as reserves Eric Monroe, Jacoby Stevens or Ed Paris.

Backup safety Cameron Lewis joined nickels Kary Vincent Jr. and Terrence Alexander in the cornerback workouts spearheaded by defensive backs coach Corey Raymond. Vincent and Alexander took first-team reps followed by Mannie Netherly and Lewis. Freshman Kelvin Joseph, who coach Ed Orgeron said is healthy and expected to play against UCF, took reps with the third group.

Greedy Williams, who has already declared for the 2019 NFL Draft and will sit out the Fiesta Bowl, was not at practice.

Devin White was at practice and took first-team reps at middle linebacker. Jacob Phillips, who will miss the first half of the bowl game due to an ejection due to a targeting call against Texas A&M last month, saw action behind him. Patrick Queen returned to the middle linebacker group and saw third-team reps followed by freshmen Damone Clark and then Micah Baskerville.

Orgeron said Queen and Baskerville are vying to stat in place of Phillips against UCF.

The outside linebackers and defensive line group were largely represented. Ed Alexander practiced. Rashard Lawrence was on hand as well. The only defensive end not spotted was reserve Justin Thomas.

Breiden Fehoko, who will not play in the bowl game, watched from the sidelines.

The same applied to K’Lavon Chaisson, who watched a full group of edge-rushers practice.

All the quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, offensive linemen and tight ends practiced on Tuesday. Redshirt freshman tackle Dare Rosenthal saw action on the right side, while redshirt freshman Cameron Wire got reps on the left side behind Saahiq Charles and Badara Traore. Jamal Pettigrew, who tore his ACL in July, continued to practice with the tight ends.

LSU passing game coordinator Jerry Sullivan worked with a select group of wide receivers, most notably Jontre Kirklin, Ja’Marr Chase, Jonathan Giles and Stephen Sullivan. Kirklin and Giles see action primarily in the slot.