It’s been a struggle for Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, and things just went from bad to worse. In the third quarter, with the Crimson Tide trailing 21-0 to Georgia, cornerback Zabien Brown left the game with an injury, and according to ESPN’s Holly Rowe, he is “out and unlikely to return."
The sophomore has been a mainstay in Alabama’s secondary this season, most memorably returning an interception for a 99-yard touchdown against Tennessee. Brown finished the regular season with 28 tackles, four pass breakups, one interception, and one forced fumble. He has played the third-most snaps of any Alabama defender this season.
The small silver lining is that Cam Calhoun, who was suspended for the first half after a targeting ejection in the Iron Bowl last week, is eligible to return to the field in the second half, and could be Brown's replacement on the outside.
Calhoun has played in five games this season, including the Iron Bowl, and has played 31 of his 37 defensive snaps at outside cornerback. Calhoun played just one snap on defense against Auburn. Alabama has largely remained healthy in the secondary this season, with Brown, Dijon Lee Jr., and Domani Jackson playing the vast majority of cornerback snaps this year.
Alabama came into the SEC Championship Game already banged up, missing starting running back Jam Miller, starting tight end Josh Cuevas, and starting left guard Kam Dewberry. The injuries have continued to pile up for Kalen DeBoer's team, which could be heading for a College Football Playoff run despite a loss in Atlanta on Saturday.
While he's unlikely to return on Saturday, if Alabama does fall to Georgia but still maintains an at-large bid into the CFP, he and Alabama's other missing starters will have until at least Friday, December 19, when the first round begins.
Zabien Brown injury update:
Brown has been ruled OUT and is unlikely to return after suffering an injury in the SEC Championship Game against Georgia. The star cornerback is suspected to have been injured while making a tackle on Georgia running back Nate Frazier.