Brian Kelly updates the status of wide receiver Chris Hilton

LSU wide receiver Chris Hilton Jr. suffered a minor ankle injury during preseason practice on Saturday and the redshirt junior sat out most of the day.

Hilton, who has developed into a key part of LSU's receiver team, is headed for a successful season in Baton Rouge after a productive summer.

He suffered a minor injury on Saturday and LSU personnel held him out of action for “precautionary reasons.”

“I think he will be fine,” Kelly said Saturday. “It was an ankle. (LSU coach) Owen (Stanley) talked to me afterward and said, 'I think it would be best if we leave him out.' It didn't appear to be a high ankle or anything that would affect him long-term. Right now, it's more of a precautionary ankle injury.”

Now entering his fourth season with the program, his main focus is on staying healthy and being a productive player for the Tigers.

Hilton played wide receiver alongside Kyren Lacy and CJ Daniels on the first team and the coaching staff was pleased with his progress.

LSU offensive coordinator Joe Sloan called Hilton an “elite” player who gives the program a chance to open up the playbook and use him as both a vertical and short-game threat.

“Chris Hilton and everything he's been through in his past in terms of injuries and the really complete receiver he's become,” Sloan said in early August. “I think you saw that in the spring, right? A lot of things he can do, I couldn't be more excited about him and what he brings to the table. He's a special guy, he's elite.”

Hilton will rehab a minor ankle injury to get back to 100% before LSU's season opener against the USC Trojans on Sept. 1 in Las Vegas.

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