By KACE KIESCHNICK, Tiger Rag Staff Reporter
A bevy of Alabama playmakers have been sidelined with injuries over the past few weeks, but coach Kalen DeBoer has said they are taking the necessary steps to return to action as the No. 9 Crimson Tide (6-2, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) prepares to visit No. 15 LSU (6-2, 3-2 SEC) on Saturday (2:30 p.m., ABC).
Bama still came away with a 31-20 win over Texas A&M in its last outing, but the Crimson Tide’s bye week came at a critical time to get key players healthy. Star wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams, preseason All-American cornerback Zabien Brown, starting center Racin Delgatty, run-stuffing defensive tackle Terrance Green and rotational running back EJ Crowell were all sidelined against the Aggies.
“Those guys are all working onto the football field,” DeBoer said. “They’re not all in the exact same spot, but they’re all out there going through workouts. Some are taking team reps, some are taking non-contact reps, but I think the progress by all of them is headed in a good direction.”
Williams was injured in Alabama’s Week 6 loss to Georgia and underwent arthroscopic knee surgery that kept him sidelined for the last two games. He was the Tide’s leading receiver with 23 catches for 415 yards and four touchdowns before the injury.
Brown suffered a lower-leg injury in a Week 7 loss to Tennessee. He leads all Alabama defensive backs with four passes defended this year and has recorded 19 total tackles.
Delgatty also missed the last two games with a lower-extremity injury. The former Cal Poly transfer took over the starting center job in his first year with the team last season and started the first six games for the Tide this year. Alabama went from averaging 182 rushing yards a game in its first six games to just 61 yards a game in the last two without Delgatty.
Green suffered a foot injury back in Week 5 in a win over Mississippi State. He re-aggravated the injury in the following week against Georgia, left that game early and has yet to return. The 6-foot-6, 313-pound force in the middle of the defensive front has 11 tackles, including four tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks this season despite the missed time.
Crowell suffered yet another lower-leg injury against Tennessee that left him sidelined against Texas A&M as well. The freshman ranks fourth on the team in rushing yards, with 216 yards on 32 carries (6.8 yards per carry) and 4 touchdowns.
DeBoer did not confirm whether the group would be available for the trip to Tiger Stadium, nor did he distinguish the individual statuses of each player. But it is a very positive update nonetheless for a Crimson Tide team that has recently not looked like the world-beating unit that averaged 49.6 points per game through the first five weeks of the season.
“I think a lot of it has to do with how their bodies respond after they’re out there,” DeBoer said of the players’ availability. “Being pushed a little more, a little bit at the end of last week, yesterday as well, and that will continue to happen throughout the course of the week.”
The Initial SEC Availability Report listing the injuries for both teams ahead of the top 15 matchup will be released on Wednesday night. LSU fans are also awaiting an update on the status of senior linebacker Whit Weeks. Coach Lane Kiffin said on Monday he would not have anything new on the veteran’s status until the availability report, although he was expected back at practice this week as he recovers from a fractured fibula.
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