Benito Jones had an injury scare in Ole Miss’ fall camp [UPDATE]

Your favorite Ole Miss defensive big man Benito Jones had a bit of an injury scare during Saturday’s Meet the Rebels scrimmage, after taking a shot to the back and needing to go the hospital for X-Rays.

Big Benito apparently suffered a rough as hell hit to the spine in the day’s scrimmage, went to the hospital for examination, and turned out fine. We hope. This guy is a pivotal man in Ole Miss’ defensive pass rush, and he’s a pillar of the Rebs’ front four.

Initial reports said that he still had feeling in his lower extremities, a severely worrying prospect in any case.

Later on Saturday evening, Jones’ mother confirmed that he was more or less okay, though his timetable for return to full contact drills remains somewhat dubious.

Any sort of absence for Benito would sting the Rebels’ defense hard this season, shallow as they are on the defensive side of the ball. Jones tallied 38 tackles in the 2016 season, but just a half sack. He earned freshman All-American honors — as he should have — and averaged 3.2 tackles per game.

Let’s hope this doesn’t develop into a lingering thing, because Benito will probably be a first-round NFL Draft pick, and Ole Miss needs him immediately.

UPDATE: Antonio Morales of the Clarion-Ledger reports that Jones was released from the hospital on Sunday morning and his status with the team is day-to-day.