Tight end Dae'Quan Wright and defensive tackle Zxavian Harris, who were cleared earlier this week to return to college football after brief stints in the NFL, have not been added to LSU's roster for the season opener at home against Clemson.
Neither was expected to play Saturday even if they had been added -- Harris did not practice and Wright practiced just twice -- but they could be on the roster later in the season.
Speaking on ESPN's "College GameDay," LSU coach Lane Kiffin said it "wasn't easy" to leave Wright and Harris off the roster. He added the decision was made for the "big picture of LSU and the LSU football program" amid the "uncertainties of what could come by adding them to the roster."
Attorney Ryan Downton, who represents Wright and Harris, also addressed the decision in a statement Saturday morning.
"LSU has made a measured decision to keep these two young men off the roster for now while preserving a path for them to be added later," Downton said. "Everyone should use that space to lower the temperature and look at the facts."
Downton added that neither player was drafted, made an NFL roster or practice squad or played in a preseason game and asked that "level heads prevail."
Wright and Harris, both former Ole Miss players, said in a lengthy court hearing Thursday that they intended to join their former coach during Kiffin's debut season at LSU. They are among 42 athletes from various sports -- including former Notre Dame pass rusher Junior Tuihalamaka, who also plans to play for LSU -- who have sued the NCAA in Louisiana to play a fifth and final season of college sports.
Administrators at the NCAA, SEC and most of its schools are adamantly opposed to the players' return, but Judge William Jorden approved a preliminary injunction Thursday that prohibits the NCAA and SEC from punishing any school that puts them on the field. The ruling does not apply to all athletes, only those named in the lawsuit.
LSU potentially still could face punitive punishments from the SEC for rostering players who have signed an NFL deal.
Wright was waived by the Cleveland Browns in August after suiting up but not playing in their second preseason game. Harris was waived by the New Orleans Saints last month before announcing he was making a "business decision" to head to Baton Rouge.
ESPN's Dan Murphy contributed to this report.