NEW ORLEANS -- LSU running back Kenny Hilliard will miss the final two games of the regular season because of a shoulder injury, a person familiar with the situation said Friday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the coaching staff had not released specifics about the injury. The person said Hilliard has not been ruled out for any possible bowl game.
On Twitter, Hilliard had referenced the injury, saying: "Gotta get healthy." Earlier Friday, he said it was going to be a "lay low weekend."
Hilliard had 434 yards and six touchdowns for the No. 17 Tigers (7-3, 3-3, No. 20 AP) before injuring his shoulder and leaving last Saturday's game against Alabama (No. 5 CFP, No. 4 AP).
LSU plays at Arkansas on Saturday. The Tigers then have an open date before closing their season at Texas A&M (No. 24 CFP) on Thanksgiving Day.
The 6-foot-2, 232-pound Hilliard has been part of a four-back rotation with Leonard Fournette, Terrence Magee and Darrell Williams. Hilliard was one of the featured runners during LSU's winning touchdown drive against then-No. 3 Mississippi on Oct. 25. The drive was highlighted by his 16-yard gain in which he used his free hand to throw down 6-foot-5, 243-pound defensive end Carlos Thompson along the LSU sideline.
Against Alabama, however, Hilliard carried only three times for 15 yards early in the game before sitting out the remainder of a 20-13 overtime loss.
If Hilliard, a four-year-player, is unable to play in a bowl, he'll finish his college career with 1,534 yards and 27 touchdowns rushing to go with 11 catches for 79 yards and a score.
Hilliard, the nephew of former LSU and Saints running back Dalton Hilliard, began his career with LSU in 2011, when he was routinely used on short yardage plays near the goal line. He wound up scoring eight touchdowns rushing and one TD receiving that season, helping the Tigers win their first 13 games, including a Southeastern Conference championship, before they fell to Alabama in the national championship game.