Alabama could be short-handed in a few spots when it heads to Knoxville on Saturday, and the biggest question mark right now appears to be Ryan Coleman-Williams.
Kalen DeBoer said Monday the Crimson Tide wideout is dealing with both a knee issue and a head injury, and the outlook for this weekend is shaky.
“Ryan’s got a couple things going on, work through an injury with his knee that’s been kind of going on, and we’ll deal with that,” DeBoer said. “Got the head issue as well. Gonna address that... this week, and pretty good chance we wouldn’t have him this weekend, I think it’d probably be week-to week after that.
Coleman-Williams went down late in the first half of Saturday’s game with what looked like a left leg injury. He was wearing a knee brace on his right leg, returned after halftime, then exited for good after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit that was not flagged for targeting.
If he can’t play, Alabama does have options waiting in the receiver room. Rico Scott is one of them, along with Cederian Morgan and Derek Meadows. Grubb also said Noah Rogers is close to 100% after his offseason injury.
There’s also uncertainty up front, where Racin Delgatty left late in the fourth quarter on Saturday with a lower-leg injury. Delgatty took over as Alabama’s starting center this season after transferring in from Cal Poly, and his status could have a ripple effect across the line.
“With Racin, just with his injury, lower-leg injury, we’ll just continue to evaluate him and see where he’s at in the days ahead. So obviously he’ll be pretty sore and kind of working through things and limited, for sure, early in the week...
On Monday, Ryan Grubb said Mal Waldrep is the next man up at center if Delgatty can’t play. Waldrep had been in the mix for a starting guard spot this offseason before losing that battle to Will Sanders, and he’s already been an important piece at guard. With Sanders dealing with injuries at times this year, Alabama’s depth would be tested if Waldrep has to slide over.
If Delgatty is unavailable and Waldrep moves to center, that would thin out the Tide’s line even more.
Jeff Allen is trying to keep that from becoming a bigger problem.
“We’ll see what happens with Race,” Grubb said. “They braced it up at the end, but we’ll see. Jeff (Allen) is working his tail off to see what we can get.”
Terrance Green is the third player DeBoer addressed on Monday. The defensive lineman has been a difference-maker for Alabama, but his injury has been lingering. DeBoer said it originally showed up against Mississippi State, then flared again after he aggravated it against Georgia.
“Terrance, just keep evaluating his injury. Has been going on for a couple weeks now.”
Alabama visits Tennessee on Saturday in Knoxville. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT, and the game will air on ABC.
In Other News...
Tennessee Fans Have A New Reason To Be Furious Before Saturday
As Tennessee turns its attention to Saturday, the Vols are dealing with an off-field incident that has already drawn plenty of disgust around campus. The University of Tennessee Police Department charged Beckett E. Nachtman, a 19-year-old from New Jersey, with felony vandalism after the Smokey statue outside Gate 21 was damaged on Oct. 10 near Neyland Stadium. Nachtman was not affiliated with the university and was on campus visiting individuals when the incident occurred.
For Tennessee fans, the statue is more than just a piece of campus decor. Smokey has long been one of the programs most recognizable symbols, so the reported beheading of the statue struck a nerve in a place where traditions matter. With the case now in the hands of police, the damage has already become one more unwelcome storyline hanging over a week that was supposed to be about football. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Just Lost A Huge Piece Before Tennessee Showdown
Alabama enters the Tennessee showdown without one of its most important playmakers, with Ryan Coleman-Williams already ruled out because of a lower-body injury and a head injury suffered against Georgia. The receiver has been the Crimson Tides top target this season, leading the team in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns, so his absence changes both the look and the rhythm of Alabamas passing game heading into one of the SECs biggest rivalry dates.
Kalen DeBoer said Coleman-Williams is dealing with both a knee issue and the head injury, leaving his status uncertain beyond this week as Alabama waits to see how he responds. For Tennessee, it is the kind of development that can reshape a game plan before kickoff, even if the full ripple effect will only become clear once the Vols see how the Tide chooses to replace their most productive receiver. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Has One Clear Edge Entering Alabama Game That Could Matter
Tennessee and Alabama meet this week in the Third Saturday in October with matching 5-1 records, and the numbers suggest a tight game despite the oddsmakers leaning toward the Crimson Tide. ESPNs FPI Matchup Predictor gives the Vols a 28.4% chance to win, while DraftKings has them installed as a 7.5-point underdog, a spread that reflects both Alabamas reputation and the challenge of winning in this rivalry setting.
Still, a look at the SEC rankings shows Tennessee does have one area where it can tilt the field, especially when the game gets into the kind of phase that usually decides marquee conference matchups. The Vols have been compared with Alabama across scoring, rushing and passing on both sides of the ball, along with sacks, and that one clear edge could end up mattering more than the pregame forecast suggests. [Read more 🡒]