With just a few days until the Crimson Tide hosts the Wisconsin Badgers, Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama Crimson Tide still aren't sure if veteran defensive lineman Tim Keenan III will be available.
Keenan, who suffered an ankle injury during a training session, was sidelined in the first two games of Alabama's season, missing the Tide's loss to the Florida State Seminoles and its dominant win over the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks.
Ahead of the Week 3 matchup against the Badgers, DeBoer and his staff shared that Keenan was questionable for the game and would be a game-time decision.
Here's the decision the Tide has to make: Keenan doesn't need to play.
Sure, Wisconsin is 2-0 and has had impressive performances so far in the season, but the Badgers only played Miami (OH) and Middle Tennessee State. Plus, even in those resounding wins, starting quarterback Danny O'Neill and running back Dilin Jones only combined for 512 total yards of offense.
Should Tim Keenan III play against the Wisconsin Badgers?
Rushing Keenan back onto the field puts him at a larger risk for re-injuring his ankle, which is the last thing the Crimson Tide needs right now, especially with Alabama's fourth game of the season on the horizon.
After a bye week, the Tide will face the currently-ranked No. 6 Georgia Bulldogs, who have already taken down two teams by a difference of 60 points. The Alabama-Georgia games have been one of the most highly contested matchups in the entirety of the SEC, and the Tide will have to throw its full force into the game.
Resting Keenan for the home matchup against the Badgers to ensure that he is beyond 100 percent ready for the conference opener is the best decision DeBoer can make. There is no need to push Keenan back onto the field for Week 3; save the star defensive lineman for Week 5.
Last year, Keenan emerged as a dominant force on the Alabama D-Line, earning 40 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, and one pass deflection. That kind of defensive dominance is exactly what the Tide will need against the Bulldogs.