Which Auburn football players will return against Mississippi State?

In the early stages of the 2023 season, the Auburn football team struggled with a wide variety of injuries. Several players from multiple position groups have missed games throughout the season as the Tigers struggle to stay healthy.

Linebacker Austin Keys and cornerback Keionte Scott were both banged up early on, with thumb and ankle injuries, respectively, but the pair made a big return in last week’s game against Ole Miss and are good to go this weekend.

Defensive lineman Mosiah Nasili-Kite is still out after suffering a torn bicep in the game against the Georgia Bulldogs a month ago, and last weekend starting center Avery Jones had to leave the game early due to injury.

This week, the Tigers are expected to start true freshman Connor Lew in place of Jones. Lew, who enrolled back in January, has had meaningful playtime in several games this season and will be ready to go if his name is called tomorrow against the Bulldogs.

The biggest injury update ahead of Auburn football’s matchup with Mississippi State is that head coach Hugh Freeze expects sophomore running back Damari Alston to be back in the rotation this weekend, per Auburn Undercover. Alston has not played since the Tigers took on Texas A&M in Week 4 after dislocating his shoulder in the contest.

"“I think they’ll let him go,” Freeze said when asked Wednesday about Alston’s status for this weekend. “I’m not 100 percent on that, but it’s trending that way.”"

Freeze went on to say that Alston did not go through full contact drills in the earlier part of the week but on Tuesday, media members spotted the running back practicing without a noncontact jersey.

The Tigers will be looking for their first SEC win of the season this weekend when they host Mississippi State on the Plains for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff.