Alabama Heads Into Mississippi State With One Lingering Injury Concern

As Alabama prepares to face Mississippi State, Coach Kalen DeBoer navigates a challenging injury report, impacting key players on both sides of the field.

Alabama is still sorting through a handful of injuries as the Tide turn their attention to Mississippi State, and Kalen DeBoer gave the clearest picture yet on Monday.

Right tackle Jayvin James remains the biggest question mark. DeBoer said James is "very much questionable at this time."

James left Saturday’s win over South Carolina in the second half, and Tyrell Miller stepped in for him. James was later spotted in a walking boot.

The news was a little better on the other side of the line. Left guard William Sanders also exited in the second half against South Carolina with an upper-body injury, but DeBoer sounded optimistic about his chances for Saturday.

"I would expect that he would be able to play on Saturday," DeBoer said. "Working through it here, but I would expect that he would be ready to go."

Mal Waldrep replaced Sanders in the game.

Alabama’s first SEC availability report of the week will come Wednesday evening.

The Tide were also without two defensive regulars against South Carolina. Outside linebacker Justin Hill, dealing with a lower-extremity injury, and defensive end Desmond Umeozulu, who has turf toe, both sat out. Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said Monday that both players are "still gonna be out for a bit."

DeBoer said Umeozulu will be out "further into the season" than Hill, though he stopped short of giving a firm timeline for either player.

With Hill and Umeozulu sidelined, Alabama leaned more heavily on Jah-Marien Latham and Fatutoa Henry off the edge, Wommack said. Starters Yhonzae Pierre and Devan Thompkins also saw their workloads rise.

Safety Zavier Mincey was another absence against South Carolina after getting hurt during pregame warmups, DeBoer said. Mincey also missed the Florida State game, though he had been listed as available on the SEC availability report against South Carolina.

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