STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi State star quarterback Kamario Taylor, a Heisman Trophy contender entering the weekend, is "day-to-day" after heading to the locker room early in the fourth quarter during his team's 56-23 loss to Alabama on Saturday.
Afterward, coach Jeff Lebby told reporters that there would be no updates on Taylor's status until the SEC availability report is released after the Bulldogs' bye week.
Mississippi State next hosts LSU on Oct. 17.
Taylor injured his lower right leg during last week's win over Missouri. He played through obvious discomfort vs. Alabama, becoming the first SEC player with three-plus passing touchdowns in five straight games since Jayden Daniels did it for LSU in 2023.
Taylor, however, struggled with taking care of the football, throwing two interceptions while also fumbling. He finished 19-of-34 passing for 258 yards.
While he was credited with six carries, five of those were sacks. After entering the game with 185 rushing yards, his only designed run Saturday was for 4 yards.
"I could not be more proud of him for his toughness, his mentality, what he's gone through this week to give him a chance to go play," Lebby said.
"... I mean, I think it's pretty obvious he just wasn't able to do anything with his legs. And so him not being able to do some of those things, it changes it. And obviously it makes it harder, but that's part of it. Again, his mentality, his toughness, his leadership -- elite, special. And again, there's so much to be able to learn from inside these moments right now."
The Bulldogs also saw starting running back Fluff Bothwell, the SEC's second-leading rusher, sidelined by a lower leg injury after just one carry against Alabama. He changed into shorts and a walking boot after the injury.
Mississippi State finished with just 18 rushing yards.
"It was such a struggle to run the football," Lebby said. "Obviously the score in the game dictates a little bit of that. Us getting away from the game plan and feeling like we have to go create some chunks because we are behind the way we were. ... Frustrated that we didn't run the football the way we needed to.
"The run game, the turnovers and then the penalties. ... That's the story."
