Kalen DeBoer comments on Tim Keenan’s injury: ‘New guys will have to step up’
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No head coach wants to experience what Kalen DeBeor is going through right now.
As Alabama approaches its season-opener against Florida State on Saturday, the Crimson Tide have now lost two starters to injury within the past 2 weeks.
First, it was potential starting running back Jam Miller suffering a disclosed collarbone in the team’s first scrimmage. While the bone is now back in place and healing, Miller is expected to miss multiple weeks at a minimum.
Then earlier today, DeBoer revealed that defensive lineman and captain Tim Keenan has an ankle injury that will require tightrope surgery. He is also expected to be sidelined for multiple games after being hurt within the past couple of days.
Thus, DeBoer was asked about the impact both of those injuries will have on his team’s early-season stretch, and he delved into how crippling the absences are yet emphasized how important it is for younger players to step up according to Bama247’s Mike Rodak.
“That’s unfortunate from my standpoint, upperclassmen [Tim Keenan and Jam Miller] who have poured so much into it, and really have helped us build the culture,” DeBoer said. “It’s gonna continue to build — it’s never there, right, and you’ve got to continue to have care for it — but those guys are two guys that are critical to how we’ve gotten to where we’re at right now, and why we feel like we’ve got a good team that’s ready to go do some things.”
“But new guys will have to step up, and that’s what’s easier said than done,” DeBoer added. “But that’s what they get ready for. TK and Jam will be right there ready to help them along the way.”
Miller accounted for 668 rushing yards, 155 receiving yards and 8 total touchdowns in a breakout junior campaign last year, and he is projected to be a major factor in the Alabama offense.
Meanwhile, Keenan posted a career-best 40 tackles, 8 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in 2024.
Current sports editor with the Enterprise-Journal in McComb, Ms. Mizzou grad '24 and college athletics enthusiast.
