TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — University of Alabama coach Nick Saban announced on Wednesday evening that reserve running back Tyren Jones tore a finger tendon and is expected to out for several week after having surgery.
Reserve offensive lineman Grant Hill has also been sick and missed all three practices this week. Saban called him “very questionable” for Ole Miss on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS) due to the time missed.
As for Alabama’s other injury concerns, the coach reiterated what he said earlier in the day during the weekly SEC coaches’ teleconference about the status of senior quarterback Blake Sims.
“Blake’s fine, he’s done really well,” he said. “Hasn’t had any issues or problems. Looks like his old self, I would not know that he was ever hurt based on the way he’s practiced and the way he’s played. He hasn’t had any discomfort at all after doing it, which I think is the real key to it.”
Sims has been on what Saban called a “pitch count” this week after sustaining a bruised shoulder against Florida on Sept. 20, and has thrown only a handful of passes during the observation period for reporters when players go through individual drills.
Despite that, all indications are that he’ll start against the No. 11 Rebels (4-0).
“He looks amazing to me,” sophomore defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson said. “Trying to rush against him, he’s pretty fast. He’s been looking good though.”
Senior wide receiver DeAndrew White (shoulder) has returned to practice, but wasn’t leading he position group Wednesday like the starters usually do. Junior running back T.J. Yeldon continues to wear a support indicative of a hamstring injury.
As for the secondary, Tomlinson said: “Everybody’s healthy, and they’re looking pretty good in practice, a lot faster and everything than previous weeks.”
Against Florida, Alabama was without senior safety Jarrick Williams (foot), sophomore cornerback Eddie Jackson (quad, knee) was limited, and senior free safety Nick Perry was suspended for the first half, resulting a lot of shuffling among the defensive backs.
The biggest question appears to be who will start at cornerback between Jackson and true freshman Tony Brown.
“It’s still playing out,” Saban said of the competition. “It’s not done. Incomplete.”
Jones, a redshirt freshman, has played in three games this season, with 13 carries for 89 yards.
Hill has been Alabama’s reserve left tackle behind true freshman Cam Robinson. If something happened and coaches needed to insert someone their options include senior right guard Leon Brown (and replace him with Alphonse Taylor or Dominic Jackson), junior Dominic Jackson or freshman Ross Pierschbacher, whom they hope to redshirt.
Christopher Walsh has covered Alabama football since 2004 and is the author of 19 books. In his free time, he writes about college football.
