LSU's quarterback situation has hit a minor, expected snag this spring. Head coach Lane Kiffin confirmed that projected starter Sam Leavitt is unlikely to return to practice for the remainder of spring drills.

The junior quarterback recently underwent a scheduled procedure to remove a screw from his foot, a remnant of the surgery that repaired his previous Lisfranc injury. Leavitt himself posted a photo on Instagram showing his foot in a cast, and Kiffin noted the QB is currently on crutches.

When asked directly about Leavitt's potential return this spring, Kiffin was straightforward: "I don't think he will." However, the coach emphasized this setback was part of the plan all along. The staff was fully aware of Leavitt's recovery timeline when they recruited him from the transfer portal this offseason.

"Nothing as a surprise, this was the timeline we expected," Kiffin stated. "He had a screw removed yesterday and everything went well. This was something going into it that we were going to know... he was going to miss a lot of spring."

Before the procedure, Leavitt's participation was already limited. He was only able to take part in individual and 7-on-7 drills during the first few weeks, observing team periods from behind the offense to take mental reps. For a player in a new system, these mental snaps are crucial, even if the physical reps will have to wait.

While missing spring practice is a challenge for any quarterback competing for a starting job, the LSU staff appears prepared for this scenario. The focus now shifts to Leavitt's recovery, with the hope he'll be fully operational and ready to compete when fall camp arrives.