Auburn football is preparing to head into battle this weekend against their toughest opponent yet in #2 Georgia, but they could be missing one of their most vital defensive players come Saturday.
Linebacker Owen Pappoe has not seen action in the Tigers’ past two games after leaving the Penn State matchup with an injury. Though the team captain traveled to Death Valley for the historic win over LSU, he did not dress out.
Pappoe has been limited in practice but has been participating, per Auburn Undercover. As usual, head coach Bryan Harsin was pretty cryptic with the media when asked if the star linebacker will be available for the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry:
"“You can call it a game-time decision; we’ll know before that,” Harsin said."
Auburn football has been struggling with several injured players as of late, and though Harsin confirmed that star running back Tank Bigsby “is fine” and that defensive tackle Zykeivous Walker will return, there was no real update on edge defender T.D. Moultry, per Auburn Wire:
"“I don’t know if T.D. will be here or not this week, and I’ll leave it at that,” he said."
Auburn Undercover reports that Moultry is dealing with a compliance matter, but not a disciplinary matter. Meanwhile, Walker will return after sustaining an arm injury in the Georgia State game and missing the LSU game.
Should Moultry be forced to miss this weekend’s matchup, it’s likely that Northwestern transfer Eku Leota will get the start in his place. Leota made his third sack this past weekend versus LSU, and this season he’s logged five tackles for loss, tying him for second-most on the team.
Auburn football will have their work cut out for them this weekend as they take on the #2 team in the nation, and they need as many healthy players back as possible.