The initial SEC Student-Athlete Availability Report for Week 11 brought good news for the Auburn Tigers.
Wednesday's report shows that only linebacker Bryce Deas is ruled out for Auburn's upcoming game at Mississippi State, and fellow linebacker De'Marcus Riddick is listed as "questionable." The report is a breath of fresh air for Auburn after being without six players in Week 10's win over Arkansas.
Among those who will play for Auburn on Saturday are safety Sylvester Smith-Reed, who has 18 tackles and an interception this season, and Andre Jordan Jr., who has the second-most interceptions on the team. Both players missed last week's game and return to provide Auburn with quality depth in the defensive backfield ahead of its matchup with Mississippi
State's passing attack.
Offensive lineman Tai Buster is also not on the availability report for the first time all season. Buster has dealt with an injury since preseason camp and is now available to play for the Tigers after missing Auburn's first nine games.
Mississippi State is plagued with injuries ahead of Saturday's game, with six players ruled out. Among those unavailable for Saturday against Auburn are quarterback Kamario Taylor, who passed for 1,460 yards and 17 touchdowns in six games before suffering a season-ending toe injury last month, and Jalen Johnson, who has logged 28 tackles and an interception this season.
Two other players of note on Mississippi State's initial report are EDGE Amaree Williams and linebacker Tyler Lockhart. The duo, who have combined to make 94 tackles and four sacks, are listed as "probable" for Saturday's game.
Auburn Tigers injury report
- OUT: LB Bryce Deas
- QUESTIONABLE: LB De'Marcus Riddick
Mississippi State injury report
- OUT: QB Kamario Taylor, S Isaac Smith, LB Jalen Smith, WR Ayden Williams, DL Trevion Williams, DL Diesel Moye
- PROBABLE: EDGE Amaree Williams, LB Tyler Lockhart
Taylor Jones is the lead writer for Auburn Wire, part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) and BlueSky. Follow Auburn Wire on X and Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn Tigers injury report: Key Tigers set to return in Week 11
