Alabama Football: More Tide players hurting than Tua Tagovailoa

Alabama football fans are justifiably concerned about the injury recovery of Tua Tagovailoa but the QB is only one of several Tide players hampered by injury.

The Alabama football faithful are anxious about Tua Tagovailoa’s ability to play against LSU. Wednesday afternoon is expected to be Tua’s first on-field work. Nick Saban will review the practice and field Tua questions Wednesday evening. Saban will have several more ailing Crimson Tide players to report on.

One of those players, tight end, Miller Forristall, reportedly has a neck/throat injury from the Arkansas game and will miss several weeks. The Alabama Crimson Tide is not deep at tight end. It will have a new starting tight end against LSU.

After two days of rest on Sunday and Monday, the Crimson Tide returned to the practice field Tuesday afternoon. Several more Alabama football players were limited by injury during the first practice of the bye week.

Crimson Tide linebacker and recent special teams terror, Ale Kaho broke a hand in the Arkansas game. Kaho was practicing Tuesday with a wrap over a cast on his injured hand. Kaho was in a black, no-contact jersey Tuesday but he should be fine to play against LSU while the hand heals.

Another group of Alabama football players was more observers than participants in the Tuesday practice. Najee Harris took it easy, nursing a sore ankle. Evan Neal who strained his groin against the Razorbacks was limited on Tuesday. He did return to the Arkansas game after the injury. Fellow offensive lineman, Landon Dickerson did not work with the first-unit during Tuesday drills. Chris Owens stepped in for Dickerson while Emil Ekiyor replaced Neal.

The extent of Devonta Smith’s shoulder injury is not known. Smith missed most of the Arkansas game and afterward, Nick Saban called it a sprain. At the least, Smith is expected to be limited for a couple of days.

There was no new information Tuesday on the recovery by Will Reichard from his aggravated hip flexor injury. Joseph Bulovas has been competent with Reichard ailing but Reichard is a potential game-changer against LSU.

Despite all the injured and nicked up players, the Crimson Tide should be near full strength against LSU. Miller Forristall is the only Tide player who is currently expected to miss the game.