Why Jeff Lebby started Kamario Taylor vs Oklahoma, what's next after QB injured again

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State football coach Jeff Lebby said star quarterback Kamario Taylor reaggravated his injury, forcing him to exit the Oct. 24 game against Oklahoma and not return.Taylor didn't play in the final three quarters of MSU's 23-15 loss to the Sooners (4-3, 2-2 SEC) at Davis Wade Stadium after getting tackled out of bounds on a failed fourth-down attempt."He felt it a little bit, so it felt like the right thing to do was get him out of the game," Lebby said. "As we move forward, we'll know a lot more tomorrow and we'll know more Monday as we move through it."The Bulldogs (4-3, 2-3) play at Texas on Oct. 31 (6:30 p.m.).Taylor was questionable to play against the Sooners after missing the last game at LSU with an injury. MSU has not said what his exact injury is, but Taylor had a boot on his right foot for the LSU and Oklahoma games. He even wore the boot during Dawg Walk as MSU entered the stadium to play Oklahoma. Taylor played three drives that yielded no points in the first quarter. He was examined in the medical tent, then walked without assistance to the locker room.The sophomore from Noxubee County finished 2-for-5 with 10 passing yards and minus-12 rushing yards on three sacks."It was a team decision," Lebby said of why Mississippi State had Taylor start against OU. "From our doctor's standpoint, (head trainer) Thomas (Callans), myself and Kamario, he felt good. He had a better week. Still very limited throughout the week, but we were all on the same page and he was ready to go play."MORE: Mississippi State QB Kamario Taylor has a new roommate. It's his freshman brother, JayyteeJeff Lebby won't commit to Billy Puckett if Kamario Taylor is outUnless the Bulldogs rule Taylor out long-term, they could go through another week of uncertainty about who will start at quarterback.Billy Puckett has been Taylor's replacement, even though Appalachian State transfer AJ Swann has been listed as a co-backup on the depth chart.Lebby said Puckett and Swann will compete to start in the scenario that Taylor doesn't play against Texas."We've got to get out of our own way," Lebby said. "Billy and AJ (Swann), both of those guys will go compete if Kamario is not available. Whoever really, at the end of the day, I feel like puts us in the best position to go win, take great care of the football, make the plays that we need to make offensively to win the game will be the guy that goes and starts."Puckett, the former walk-on who made his first career start in the 31-0 loss to LSU, led Mississippi State on two touchdown drives in the second half but after Oklahoma was ahead by two scores. He finished the game 17-for-24 with 158 yards, one touchdown, one interception and 37 rushing yards. Puckett also lost a fumble in the second quarter on Oklahoma's 4-yard line. Swann has not played this season but has 18 career starts from his three previous teams: Appalachian State, LSU and Vanderbilt. Billy Puckett statsHere are Billy Puckett's stats this season:Completion percentage: 64.1%Passing yards: 368Passing touchdowns: 1Interceptions: 2Rushing yards: 101Rushing touchdowns: 0Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Why Jeff Lebby started Kamario Taylor vs Oklahoma, what's next after QB injured again