A glimpse of AK Dear in Alabama’s practice footage got fans buzzing Wednesday night, but the picture it paints is probably more ordinary than dramatic.
The sophomore running back, who had been expected to miss significant time after an ankle injury, can be seen in the official video released by Alabama wearing his helmet and shells rather than a black, non-contact jersey. In other words, he appears to be working through the same drills as the rest of the running backs.
That sight naturally lit up social media, especially because Dear had already undergone a tightrope surgery after suffering a high ankle sprain during Alabama’s first scrimmage of fall camp. The initial recovery window was reported as six to eight weeks, which would make his earliest realistic return the final weekend of September against South Carolina in Tuscaloosa.
There was also some confusion over whether the player in the clip might have been Yhonzae Pierre, since Alabama has two players wearing No. 0.
But the video and Wednesday’s practice photos point to Dear, not Pierre. Pierre is much bigger, and the practice images showed defensive players in white while offensive players were in crimson.
For Alabama fans, the immediate temptation is to reach for the Tua Tagovailoa comparison. Tagovailoa had tightrope surgery after the Tennessee game in 2019 and was back three weeks later for the LSU matchup, so the memory of that comeback is fresh.
Still, this isn’t the same situation. Tagovailoa wasn’t being asked to make explosive cuts the way a running back does, and that’s the real hurdle for Dear. At this stage of the recovery, he can start rebuilding strength and getting back to running and planting, but he’s still a ways off from comfortably changing direction, making lateral cuts, and exploding from a dead stop.
That matters because those are the exact movements a running back has to have.
So while Dear being back on the practice field is a good sign, it doesn’t really suggest a faster-than-expected return. It looks more like a player moving through the normal recovery process than one on the verge of an early comeback.
That means Alabama is still likely to be without Dear for the opener against ECU, the following week against Kentucky, and probably the Florida State game as well. South Carolina at the end of September may still be a stretch.
The bigger picture is simple: there’s no need to push him. Alabama still has a long season ahead, including a nine-game league schedule, and the running back room appears to be in decent shape otherwise. EJ Crowell is on track to play Saturday, and the Crimson Tide would be better served getting Dear all the way back before the stretch run than rushing him into action too soon.
In Other News...
Alabamas Run Game Finally Faces Its First Real Test
Alabama heads into its game with East Carolina looking to sharpen a run game that never quite found its rhythm late last season, and that starts with a mostly new offensive line trying to set the tone early. Freshman EJ Crowell is expected to be available, giving the Tide another option as they try to establish some consistency on the ground before conference play starts to sharpen every weakness.
East Carolina brings a different kind of stress test, with a new coordinator steering an offense built around tempo and the pass. Alabamas defense enters the matchup with a reputation for being strong and cohesive, but this is still the kind of opener that can reveal a lot about both sides of the ball, especially for an offensive line still learning itself and a rushing attack looking for proof its headed in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Will See Several Former Starters Again In An Uncomfortable Spot
Alabamas offseason exodus sent 22 players into the transfer portal, and the ripple effect is already easy to see as several of those departures line up to play meaningful roles elsewhere next season. Ten of the transfers are projected starters at their new schools, with Alabamas old roster footprint stretching across programs like Texas A&M, Oregon State, SMU, Kentucky, Western Kentucky and Cal. For a team that is used to being the one forcing other fan bases to keep tabs on familiar names, it is a different kind of reminder of how much personnel turnover the modern game can bring.
Georgia Tech is one of the most uncomfortable stops on that list, with multiple former Alabama players expected to factor into the Yellow Jackets lineup in 2026, while other Tide transfers land in spots where their roles are still being sorted out. Some are projected backups, some are still in uncertainty as the new season approaches, and all of it leaves Alabama watching former starters and contributors settle into new homes with real chances to matter. The storyline is less about one single destination than the broader feeling that Alabama will be seeing a lot of its recent roster again, just in unfamiliar colors. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Defense Sends A Clear Warning Before The ECU Opener
Bray Hubbard is already sounding like a player ready to put last season behind him and start driving Alabamas defense into a new year. The safety, coming off a standout 2025 campaign and First-team All-SEC recognition, spoke with clear confidence about the units mindset as the Crimson Tide prepare for the 2026 season and their opener against ECU.
The message from Hubbard was simple: Alabama wants to set the tone early and make life uncomfortable for the opponent from the first snap. For a defense that figures to lean on Hubbard as one of its key voices and playmakers, that means being aggressive, fast and active around the football in a game that should offer an early read on how quickly the Tide can establish their identity. [Read more 🡒]