Alabama DL Kelby Collins exits Week 7 matchup with Missouri in 1st half: Latest injury updates

Alabama’s defensive line depth has been worn through the first half of the season, and the Crimson Tide were dealt another blow on Saturday in the first half against Missouri. Junior Florida transfer Kelby Collins had to be tended to by the Alabama training staff after a Missouri third-down run and appeared to be favoring his right arm as he was helped to the sideline. 

Collins has played 53 snaps this season, but was seeing an increased workload with injuries keeping Jeremiah Beaman, Jah-Marien Latham, and Qua Russaw missing extended time along the Tide defensive line. At 6-foot-4, 275 pounds, Collins plays up and down the defensive line, but sees most of his snaps on the interior. 

Last season, Collins played 59 total snaps across six games for the Gators before transferring to Tuscaloosa. In 2023, as a freshman, Collins made a major impact in Gainesville with three sacks and 20 quarterback pressures across his 274 snaps. Alabama may need that level of production from Collins with the other injuries through the first half of the season. 

Collins played a season high 18 defensive snaps in Week 2 against Louisiana Monroe, but he was most effective in Week 6 against Vanderbilt with four quarterback pressures on just 10 pass rushing opportunities.

With the injuries to Beaman, Latham, and Russaw, Alabama has started to lean on its young talent in the trenches, relying on freshman London Simmons and redshirt freshman Isaia Faga to play a lot thorugh the early part of the season. That reliance will continue if Collins is unable to return to the field in Week 7.

Kelby Collins injury update:

Collins went down in the first half against Missouri and had to be tended to on the field by the Alabama training staff. He was helped to the sideline with what appears to be a right arm injury. Further updates will come as Alabama has yet to release Collins’ official status for the rest of the game.