Alabama needed to begin tying up loose ends this week during the final week of practice.

Head coach Nick Saban called Thursday’s practice “judgment day” because the depth chart is already being penciled in and shouldn’t change drastically at this point. Friday marked the beginning of preparations for USC.

Here’s the latest as the Crimson Tide plays the Trojans this Saturday in Arlington, Texas.

ALL IS WELL ON THE INJURY FRONT

Alabama had good news as a whole from the injury department. Dalvin Tomlinson returned to action this week after missing practice last week with an ankle injury. Keith Holcombe took reps with the second-team linebackers. While Cam Sims had wraps around his leg, he worked out this week as his knee is showing improvement.

Also, cornerback Nigel Knott worked with Tony Brown during drills after missing most of August with an injury. Meanwhile, Alphonse Taylor was day-to-day, according to Saban. Saban indicated Taylor was just a little banged up and not suffering from a serious injury. He told reporters this week the team is looking forward to Taylor returning to action.

LATE SHAKEUP ON OFFENSIVE LINE?

A strange move in practice involved the coaching staff moving Ross Pierschbacher to right guard and Bradley Bozeman to center. Generally, a move of this sort does not occur this late before the season. However, it isn’t a crazy move from a positional standpoint. Pierschbacher has been penciled in at center pretty much the entire offseason. However, he started for last season’s team at left guard, so a move to right guard makes some sense.

Meanwhile, Bozeman stepped in for two starts at center in 2014 and served as Ryan Kelly’s primary backup throughout the 2014 season. So, while Bozeman has primarily taken snaps at right guard and Pierschbacher has primarily taken snaps at center throughout fall camp, this adjustment isn’t without reason.

Also, a change seen at the two latest practices doesn’t necessarily mean the coaching staff has decided this personnel change is what to trot out against USC. Given that Saban has repeatedly praised Bozeman’s versatility, perhaps the coaching staff wanted to simply look at what the offensive line looked like while switching Bozeman and Pierschbacher. It’s worth looking at during practice this week. Either way, the starting five on the offensive line remains the same.

NOT AS MUCH SHUFFLING IN THE NICKEL

Alabama’s nickel defense package remained virtually identical. Anthony Averett and Marlon Humphrey continue to get most of the snaps at outside cornerback. Minkah Fitzpatrick has received snaps at outside corner but has mostly seen time at the nickel corner spot. Eddie Jackson and Ronnie Harrison are firmly entrenched at safety.

Reuben Foster is slotted at the Mike linebacker spot. The only minor change is Rashaan Evans has seen most of the time at the other inside linebacker spot, although Shaun Dion Hamilton saw first-team reps at the spot this week. Both players will see a lot of game action this season. The larger question has more to do with which linebacker spot will they line up at and in what defensive packages or situations.

STILL PUTTING TOGETHER PASSING GAME PIECES

The quarterback battle is still to be determined. According to an AL.com report, Jalen Hurts and Cooper Bateman threw to receivers, David Cornwell threw to tight ends and Blake Barnett was present for Friday’s practice. Make of it what you will. It could indicate Alabama is leaning toward starting the veteran Bateman and playing Hurts Saturday, or it could indicate Hurts is still under consideration to start under center.

In all likelihood, it probably did not mean a thing. Saban continues to state the job is an open race, and it is too early to name a starter. At Saturday’s practice, all four quarterbacks threw to receivers.

And the wide receiver spots appear to be wide open after Calvin Ridley and ArDarius Stewart. With four quarterbacks throwing to receivers, sniffing out the top targets has been challenging.