Following a tricky loss to USC within the staff’s 2024 season opener this past Sunday , LSU was offered with some further disappointment on Tuesday when veteran operating again John Emery Jr. went down with a knee harm in observe.
Based on ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Emery suffered a torn ACL in his left knee, ending his season with the Tigers.
It is further devastating for the LSU operating again, as he had simply recovered from tearing the ACL in his right knee in the course of final season. So, as a substitute of serving to the Tigers compete for a spot on this 12 months’s 12-team School Soccer Playoff bracket, Emery might want to spend the following handful of months recovering from one other extreme knee harm.
His newest knee harm is heartbreaking as a result of he was coming off an intriguing efficiency in LSU’s Week 1 loss to USC. Within the matchup, Emery rushed for 61 yards on 10 carries (6.1 common) and caught one cross for 10 yards.
It appeared like he would play a big function within the Tigers’ offense this season, however now, his time with the college may need abruptly ended.
Emery has been attending LSU since 2019, and whereas he hasn’t carried out at an elite degree, he has nonetheless been capable of put up stable numbers throughout his time on the college.
In 38 profession video games with the Tigers, he is accrued 1,453 whole yards, averaged 5.6 yards per contact, and scored 16 touchdowns, which incorporates eight journeys to the top zone in 2022.
Emery may very well be granted one other 12 months of eligibility and return to LSU for the 2025 season. He’ll have a variety of time to consider it, however there’s an opportunity his profession with the Tigers is not over but.
With this newest harm, it would not be surprising if Emery is contemplating whether or not he needs to proceed taking part in soccer. Extreme accidents aren’t solely painful for a participant’s bodily well being, however they usually have a big affect on a participant’s psychological well being as properly.
Does Emery need to undergo one other lengthy restoration course of to return to the soccer subject, realizing that his danger of re-injury is far increased now following his most up-to-date knee harm?
This can be a massive query that the veteran operating again should reply quickly whereas he watches LSU from afar for the remainder of the 2024 season as they compete for a School Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship.