Alabama Football: Christian Miller to return for Auburn game

Alabama football fans are excited to learn linebacker Christian Miller should be medically cleared to return for the Auburn Game.

In the Alabama football season opener against Florida State, Christian Miller tore a biceps muscle. The injury required surgery and it was announced he would be out for the season. Recent rumors have suggested Miller’s recovery has been more rapid than expected. Miller has been hinting at a return in tweets for the last couple of weeks.

On Wednesday, Nick Saban said Miller and fellow linebacker, Terrell Lewis were in the “functional phase of rehab” but had not yet been cleared medically.

Thursday morning Matt Zenitz of al.com reported,

"Barring a setback, Christian Miller is expected to be able to play against Auburn next week, according to sources. Terrell Lewis is on track to return soon as well, though the SEC championship game — if the Crimson Tide should make it there — is probably the more realistic target date for Lewis, per sources."

Christian Miller and Terrell Lewis are both outside linebackers. Going into the 2017 season, Miller was expected to be the Tide’s most productive outside rusher, as a replacement for NFL-bound Tim Williams.

Alabama football has lost four key linebackers to injury this season in Miller, Lewis, Shaun Dion Hamilton and Mack Wilson. The more recent injuries to Hamilton and Wilson have depleted the roster at inside linebacker.

Against Mississippi State, Keith Holcombe and true freshman Dylan Moses joined Rashaan Evans at inside linebacker. Holcombe and Moses did not perform well in their expanded roles. Based on practice reports this week, it appears Moses will get more snaps against Mercer than Holcombe, playing in both the Nickel and Dime defensive units.

Christian put together a clever video teasing his return.

Miller on ‘Pitch-Count’

Assuming Christian Miller can practice next week and assuming his conditioning is game-ready, having him on the outside against Auburn would strengthen the Tide defense. Even if both assumptions prove positive, it is likely Miller will be on what Nick Saban likes to call a ‘pitch-count’ limiting his playing time.

After a long break from injury, few players can get back to full game conditioning in less than two or three games. Even if Miller’s ‘pitch-count’ is limited against the Tigers, having him available situationally aids the Tide and forces Auburn to prepare for his involvement.

Based on tweets and message boards, it appears Miller, Lewis (torn elbow ligament) and Mack Wilson (broken foot) are not interested in medical redshirt options. There is no solid information that Lewis or Wilson can return for the Auburn game but the SEC Championship game is a possibility.

Next: There is value in playing the Mercer Bears

Nick Saban was quite upbeat in the Wednesday press review. Perhaps it had something to do with sharing positive news on the early returns of these important Crimson Tide defenders.