Alabama's hardest preseason work is over. There will still be some contact, scrimmage-like work during a few practices, but the snaps will be far fewer than in Fall Camp scrimmages. Injuries can still occur. A player can be injured during non-contact work. But new injuries should be minimal.
The Crimson Tide has been far from injury-free. Including projected starting wide receiver Noah Rogers' injury during the A-Day Game, as many as eight expected contributors have been injured.
Along with Rogers, AK Dear, freshman Jordan Edmonds and JUCO cornerback Nick Sherman will miss games. Sherman's injury status has not been updated since the second scrimmage, and he might return sooner.
During Fall Camp, EJ Crowell, Lotzeir Brooks, William Sanders, and Casey Poe missed time. Crowell and Brooks did not participate in Thursday's scrimmage. Kalen DeBoer has said that neither will miss any games. Sanders and Poe have recovered.
'Next Man Up' leaves Alabama in good shape
Assuming no new serious injuries, Alabama will enter the season without a heavy injury toll. Losing AK Dear and Noah Rogers for several games is not insignificant. Dear's Fall Camp play was generating enthusiasm from the Alabama staff. Rogers was slotted to provide much-needed game experience to the wide receiver group. At 6'2" and 206 lbs., Rogers came from North Carolina State with a reputation for beating defenders on 50-50 balls.
Alabama's deep talent at running back and wide receiver means Dear and Rogers will be missed, but the next guys up are more than capable. Kalen DeBoer has consistently praised Daniel Hill during the offseason. Hill, Trae'shawn Brown, Kevin Riley, and, when healthy, EJ Crowell can give the Tide what it needs at running back.
Joining Ryan Coleman- Williams and Lotzeir Brooks as wideout starters will be either Rico Scott or Derek Meadows. DeBoer has praised both recently. JUCO transfer Tyler Henderson has also impressed. Add freshman Cederian Morgan, who teammates swear catches everything thrown his way, and Alabama has an impressive six-wideout rotation without Rogers. Morgan and Meadows have the bodies to be the red-zone guy that Isaiah Horton was last season.
When Dear and Rogers return, their position group teammates will not just step aside. Both are acknowledged as playmakers, but to regain a strong position on the depth chart, Dear and Rogers will have to compete again.
Check out the latest projected Week 1 Depth Chart
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