The SEC's first availability reports for this weekend's games were released on Wednesday night, and Alabama's brought more questions than actual answers.
The Crimson Tide entered the bye week pretty banged up. The hope has always been that most, if not all, would be back for this weekend's matchup in Baton Rouge.
But while Kalen DeBoer has sounded optimistic about it this week, Wednesday night's initial availability report was ambiguous.
Five Alabama starters were listed as questionable:
WR Ryan Coleman-Williams, CB Zabien Brown, C Racin Delgatty, LG Will Sanders, and DT Terrance Green.
Freshman RB EJ Crowell, Alabama's leader in yards per carry, is also listed as questionable.
5 Alabama starters listed as questionable for LSU game
There has been optimism this week that Alabama would get several of these guys back. Yhonzae Pierre dropped a significant hint on Tuesday that Green would play. Rico Scott did the same regarding Ryan Coleman-Williams. Practice footage certainly showed Racin Delgatty snapping the ball and taking repos.
Zabien Brown, Will Sanders, and EJ Crowell may be a little less certain.
Sanders underwent tightrope surgery on his ankle. If he's unable to go, Alabama will likely start Mal Waldrep at left guard, assuming Delgatty is able to play at center. If Delgatty is also out, then Waldrep would start at center for the third straight game and sophomore Kaden Strayhorn would be next up at left guard.
Odds are good that several of the questionable players will be able to give it a go. It's fair to wonder how effective they might be, however.
Against a prolific LSU passing attack, getting Brown back at CB will be critical. It has been a tough season for sophomore Dijon Lee, and Mercer transfer Carmelo O'Neal hasn't fared much better in his reps. Alabama gave Chuck McDonald an increase in reps on the outside heading into the Texas A&M game, but he had to shift back inside to the Husky position when Red Morgan was ejected for targeting in the second quarter. It will be interesting to see if McDonald is back on the outside for this weekend against LSU, even if Brown is able to play.
Alabama needs Coleman-Williams back at WR. Even if he's less than 100%, which is a safe assumption, he brings significant gravity that opens up space for other receivers to go to work.
Green may be as important as any in terms of Alabama's potential success. Since he was knocked out of the Georgia game in the second quarter, the Tide's run defense has not been the same without him.
As for Crowell, he's the most explosive of Alabama's running backs, and if the Crimson Tide is going to find success on the ground, having the talented freshman available will be important.
Even at full strength, this weekend's matchup in Baton Rouge will be an insanely difficult test for the Crimson Tide. If any of the questionable players are unable to give it a go, then the task just gets that much more difficult.
Alabama's next availability report will be released Thursday night at 7:10 pm CT.
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