LSU quarterback Myles Brennan suffered a left arm injury, putting his availability for the 2021 season in doubt, the Tigers announced Monday. Brennan, the program's top passer from last season -- despite playing in only three games -- was competing for the starting job alongside sophomore Max Johnson.
"Myles Brennan suffered a severe injury that will require surgery," coach Ed Orgeron said in a statement. "His timeline is yet to be determined. Myles has done everything we have asked of him this summer and was in the fight to be the starting quarterback at LSU."
Brennan's poor injury luck dates back to last season when he sustained an injury to his throwing shoulder during a 45-41 loss to Missouri in mid-October. Initially ruled doubtful for the following week, he eventually missed the remainder of the season. Still, the senior finished 1,112 yards passing, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions in his three games as starter.
The injury puts Johnson front and center to be the starting quarterback in 2021. He appeared in six games last season but was prominent as the starter in LSU's 37-34 upset over Florida, a game in which he threw three touchdowns. Johnson then scored five total touchdowns in a shootout against Ole Miss the following week, allowing the Tigers to finish 5-5 and avoiding their first losing season since 1999.
Johnson is now the only remaining quarterback to have thrown a pass for LSU in 2020. Earlier this offseason, TJ Finley transferred to Auburn after starting five games in 2020. Finley, who is immediately eligible thanks to the SEC's intra-conference transfer rule, threw for 941 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions before being benched in favor of Johnson.
