Lee sits out with back spasms

• By SCOTT RABALAIS AND RANDY ROSETTA
• Advocate sportswriters
• Published: Aug 19, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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When the race is this close, the competition this tight, one misstep makes a loud thud.

So when redshirt freshman quarterback Jarrett Lee didn’t practice Monday, a day before LSU’s third and final preseason scrimmage, his absence was deafening.

While bells went off for the media covering practice, Lee’s inability to practice turned out to be a bit of a false alarm.

LSU sports information director Michael Bonnette said Lee missed practice with back spasms, but is expected to be available for today’s scrimmage.

Whether that means Lee will step back into his role with the first unit is unknown.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Texan reportedly took a good portion of the first-team snaps in LSU’s last scrimmage on Saturday after returning from an ankle ailment that kept him out of action for several days.

Sophomore Andrew Hatch, the other veteran quarterback in the hunt for playing time, left Saturday’s scrimmage early with a sore back.

But Hatch and his back were back in action Monday, splitting time with true freshman Jordan Jefferson and redshirt freshman walk-on T.C. McCartney.

Besides Lee’s non-presence — and offensive coordinator Gary Crowton’s decision to illustrate pass coverage by shading wide receiver Chris Mitchell — it was a fairly routine practice for LSU.

The Tigers worked out in helmets, shoulder pads and shorts, as they often do. And center Brett Helms (calf) and defensive tackle Charles Alexander (hamstring) weren’t there, as they so often haven’t been during camp.

Whether or not Helms and Alexander will be back in time for today’s 4 p.m. scrimmage remains a question.

The rest of the Tigers will take part in a full contact scrimmage with scripted situations for the offense, defense and all phases of special teams.

Following the scrimmage, the Tigers will take Wednesday off and come back to work Thursday to begin game-week preparation for their season opener Aug. 30 against Appalachian State.