Alex Golesh Gives Injury Update on Four Auburn Linemen Ahead of Southern Mississippi

In the wake of a bruising season‑opener against Baylor, Auburn found itself missing four players from the trenches – two on offense and two on defense. The damage was noticeable, especially when the Tigers struggled to get to Baylor’s quarterback in the second half.

On Monday, head coach Alex Golesh fielded the press and gave a surprisingly upbeat rundown. He said right guard Cole Skinner, the former USF transfer, and left guard Jacob Strand should both be cleared to suit up for the upcoming game against Southern Mississippi. Both left the field in the second half of the Baylor game and haven’t practiced since, but Golesh is confident they’ll be back in uniform this weekend.

Defensively, the story is a bit more mixed. Edge rusher Chris Murray, who was also knocked out early, is now officially listed as healthy and ready to go. His return should help shore up a pass rush that was noticeably thin without him.

Da’Shawn Womack, the other edge defender, is still listed as day‑to‑day after sustaining a lower‑body injury. Golesh hopes to see him back in practice soon and, if all goes well, possibly on the field later in the week. Even if he misses the Southern Mississippi game, the coach expects Womack to be back in time for the tougher Florida showdown two weeks from now.

The Tigers have a three‑man rotation at each guard spot, so the “next man up” mentality kept the offense moving enough to pull off a 10‑play, 75‑yard touchdown drive that secured the win. The defense, however, will need to lean on Murray’s return and find ways to compensate for Womack’s lingering issue if they want to sustain the early‑season momentum.

Injuries are an unavoidable part of college football, but the fact that the offensive line can already adjust bodes well for Auburn’s chances this year. The real test will be whether the defense can fill the gaps long enough to stay competitive as the schedule toughens.