​BATON ROUGE – The opening of preseason practice for LSU football Aug. 5 also meant the return to the field for a player vital for the team’s level of success in 2026.Junior quarterback Sam Leavitt fully participated in a practice at LSU for the first time Wednesday during the team’s first session of preseason camp. For the two periods that media were allowed to view, Leavitt looked to be healthy and played with no limitations.”I thought Sam had a great day today,” first-year head coach Lane Kiffin said about Leavitt following the team’s practice. “Really looked the best he’s looked. That was exciting to see. Looks like he’s getting more comfortable with the receivers.”LSU’S CFP BEST PATH These 5 games could determine LSU football’s College Football Playoff fate in 2026The 6-2, 216-pound quarterback is working his way back from a pair of foot surgeries stemming from a Lisfranc injury he suffered while at Arizona State last season. He had the initial operation late last year and a scheduled follow-up procedure done during LSU’s spring schedule, preventing him from participating last March and April.Despite him missing the spring, Kiffin said that he doesn’t think Leavitt is behind in his development within the offensive system.”He did a lot of mental work, did a lot of throwing stuff in different situations even when he couldn’t move as well. I think his progression has been really good,” Kiffin said. “I think he’s right on pace. Sam’s been moving around really well and if you just went out today and saw him, I don’t think that you’d think there was an injury. I think he’s all the way back from that.”Now it’s just getting up with the timing of everything.”Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Why Lane Kiffin said LSU QB Sam Leavitt looked his best in 1st preseason practice