Alabama got a dose of good news in the middle of an ugly availability report Wednesday night: sophomore linebacker Justin Hill is listed as “probable” and appears set to return after missing the last three games with an injury.
That matters a lot more than it might first seem. Hill is the backup Wolf linebacker behind Yhonzae Pierre, but his presence changes what Alabama can do across the front seven. He gives Kane Wommack more flexibility, more answers, and more ways to dress up the defense before the ball is snapped.
The Crimson Tide have been stretched thin without Hill and South Carolina transfer Desmond Umeozulu over the last three weeks. That has forced Pierre and Devan Thompkins into heavier workloads, and the extra snaps have started to show. With Hill back, both should be able to breathe a little easier, and Wommack should have more room to vary his looks.
One of the clearest ripple effects would be Pierre sliding down to Bandit from Wolf, with Hill trusted to handle the edge at Wolf. That would then let Thompkins move inside and give Alabama more of a pass-rushing threat.
That kind of pressure has been missing lately. Early in the season, one of Alabama’s best traits was its ability to affect the quarterback with just four rushers.
That edge has faded. Against Georgia last week, the Tide couldn’t generate steady pressure on Gunner Stocktno, and the Bulldogs’ quarterback picked them apart repeatedly, especially on third down.
The challenge won’t get easier in Knoxville, even if Tennessee is starting redshirt freshman George MacIntyre at quarterback. MacIntyre won’t bring the same veteran polish as Stockton, but Alabama’s defense still needs to get after him quickly.
A healthier front could also help Alabama create takeaways, which remain a calling card of Wommack’s defense.
The timing is right for Hill to return. Alabama’s defense hasn’t matched preseason expectations through the first six weeks, and the Crimson Tide will need a much sharper performance against a stifling Tennessee defense in the noise of Neyland Stadium. That puts even more pressure on Keelon Russell and a young Alabama offense if the Tide’s defense doesn’t hold up its end.
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Georgia's Alabama Win Just Got More Complicated For Kirby Smart
Georgias win over Alabama in Week 6 pushed Kirby Smarts team to 6-0 and kept the Bulldogs at No. 1, but it also added another layer of concern to what had already become a physical stretch. Smart pointed to the injury situation after the game, and one of the bigger hits in the backfield involves junior running back Chauncey Bowens, who is dealing with a lower-body injury.
Bowens is set to miss the Week 7 trip to Auburn, and there is no timetable yet for his return. With Bowens and Nate Frazier both dealing with injuries, Georgia has been forced into a committee approach at running back, a setup that works in the short term but leaves Smart managing one more variable as the schedule keeps moving. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama May Have To Reshuffle Key Spots Before Tennessee
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Coleman-Williams is working through knee and head injuries, while Green is sidelined with a lower-leg issue, leaving Alabama to sort out key spots if those absences hold through game day. DeBoer said this week that he had updates on player conditions and potential replacements for injured starters, which means the Tide are already weighing how to reshuffle important roles before facing a Tennessee team that will be eager to test any thin spots in the rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Hurts Suddenly Faces A Serious Health Issue In Philadelphia
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Tanner McKee is expected to start in Hurts place on Sunday, giving the Eagles a different look at quarterback at a moment when they can least afford disruption. For Alabama fans who have followed Hurts from his college days, the news serves as a reminder that even established NFL stars can be thrown into unplanned, serious health situations with little warning. [Read more 🡒]