Alabama senior TE Josh Cuevas missed the Eastern Illinois game with an injury, one that is expected to cause him to miss next week's Iron Bowl, too. Kalen DeBoer didn't speak in certain terms regarding Cuevas after Saturday's game, however.
“We’ll just kind of have to see how he comes along here during the week next week," DeBoer said.
Cuevas wasn't missed against Eastern Illinois. Alabama rolled to a dominant 56-0 victory in a game that was over before it ever kicked off. The Tide will, however, miss Cuevas' steadying presence next week in the Iron Bowl if he is indeed out.
Yesterday's game gave an indication of the TE pecking order with Cuevas out. Redshirt junior Danny Lewis Jr. also missed the game, which has been a frequent occurrence this season for him with various ailments. His status for Auburn is uncertain.
What became painfully clear against Eastern Illinois is that Alabama's top two tight ends right now may both be true freshmen.
Kaleb Edwards has impressed. He started in place of Cuevas, making his third start of the season. He caught one pass for 30 yards against the Panthers, and figures to play a prominent role next week against Auburn, even if Cuevas is surprisingly able to play.
But it was clear from yesterday's game plan that DeBoer and Ryan Grubb were preparing fellow true freshman Marshall Pritchett for a key role down the stretch. He's a talented player who was highly regarded in last year's recruiting class. He caught four passes for 33 yards, proving himself to be a reliable safety valve for the Tide quarterbacks.
Kalen DeBoer speaks highly of freshman TE Marshall Pritchett
The coaching staff has remained high on Pritchett all season long. He seems next in line, ahead of senior Brody Dalton and redshirt freshman Jay Lindsey. DeBoer spoke highly of the freshman in his post-game press conference on Saturday.
"I thought getting Marshall Pritchett, who’s going to be a really good football player, the last few weeks, he’s really gained a lot of steam, gotten a few reps," DeBoer said. "He’s been great on special teams, and we saw him early in the season on scout team, tearing it up, and getting healthier throughout the year. And now, he’s out there doing his thing, and it was good to see him get comfortable.
Going into the Iron Bowl with the top two players at a position group being freshmen isn't particularly ideal. But Edwards has shown himself to be skilled beyond his years. Both have proven to be good pass catchers, but the bigger concern without Cuevas - and potentially without Lewis, too - will be blocking.
That's what could force Troy transfer Brody Dalton into the lineup for some meaningful snaps for the first time all season. Dalton isn't as skilled as Edwards or Pritchett, but he has a lot more experience than the two, which would be invaluable in a difficult road environment with the season on the line.