Jackson State football coach T.C. Taylor was less certain about starting quarterback JaCobian Morgan being available for the SWAC Championship game at his weekly press conference Dec. 1.
"I'm leaving it up to the trainers and our doctors here," Taylor said. "He's been moving around as best he can, so we'll continue to evaluate him."
Jackson State (9-2) plays Prairie View A&M (9-3) in the SWAC Championship at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium on Dec. 6. (1 p.m. CT, ESPN2).
On Nov. 22 Taylor said he expected Morgan to be cleared for the SWAC Championship.
Morgan hasn't played since suffering a left foot injury against Grambling State on Oct. 25. Before the Tigers' last game against Alcorn State , Morgan warmed up with the team but did not play.
In six games this season, Morgan completed 61.2% of his passes for 1,183 yards, 11 touchdowns and two interceptions and rushed for 265 yards and two touchdowns.
Freshman Jared Lockhart has served as JSU's starter in Morgan's place. He started the Tigers last four games and overall, he's played in six contests, totaling 1,031 passing yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions, while completing 67.3% of passes. He also rushed for 196 yards and three touchdowns.
If Morgan is not able to play against PVAMU, Lockhart would get the start once again.
"Just like in previous weeks, we're going to get Jared ready to play," Taylor said. "We're not making no excuses of his classification. We know what he brings to the football games and to this team."
When asked, Taylor did not say who would get the start if Morgan is available to play.
"We'd have to sit down as coaches. It's a lot going into that," Taylor said. "We've got to get the nod that he can play. It's hard to say that when (there's) so much uncertainty, can he play or not?"
A win for Jackson State over PVAMU would give the Tigers their second-consecutive SWAC Championship and berth in the Cricket Celebration Bowl against MEAC champion South Carolina State at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Dec. 13.
If the Tigers qualify for the game, considered the de facto HBCU national championship, they'd be competing to win the Celebration Bowl for the second year in a row.
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at treid@usatodayco.com and follow her on X @tiareid65 .
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: JaCobian Morgan injury update for Jackson State in SWAC Championship
