LSU's Stingley expected to return vs. Vanderbilt after hospital stay

LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. is expected to play against Vanderbilt after being hospitalized due to an illness last week, head coach Ed Orgeron said Wednesday, per ESPN's Adam Rittenberg.

Stingley was sent to the hospital after falling "acutely ill" and missed the opening loss to Mississippi State. Orgeron said he didn't know what caused Stingley's illness, which wasn't coronavirus related.

The cornerback returned to practice Tuesday in a non-contact jersey.

"A huge lift for us," Orgeron said of Stingley's potential return. "Derek's one of our best players ... He's a force and he's a difference."

The cornerback racked up an SEC-high six interceptions in 15 games as a true freshman in 2019 to earn consensus All-American honors.