Alabama Getting Closer to Fully Healthy After Kentucky Trip

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Following Alabama's SEC opener last weekend against Kentucky, the Crimson Tide is inching closer to being fully healthy, according to head coach Kalen DeBoer on Monday morning ahead of the Tide's revenge game against Florida State.

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The Crimson Tide was without starting right guard Michael Carroll after he suffered a concussion during practice last week, but head coach Kalen DeBoer is feeling confident that Alabama will get its lone returning starter from last year's offensive line back this week against Florida State.

"Michael, we’ll continue to work with him. I feel confident that we’ll get there, and we’ll just kind of see how the week goes," DeBoer told reporters on Monday. "But I think he’s heading in a good direction, and we hope to get him back."

AK Dear has yet to appear in a game for the Crimson Tide after suffering a leg injury during Alabama's first scrimmage of fall camp, but getting closer to returning to action and is expected to get more reps in practice this week in preparation for the Seminoles.

"AK [is] making good progress. I think he was getting closer towards the end of the week. Again, reset; we’ll see where he’s at today. And then tomorrow, get out there, hopefully more on the practice field," DeBoer said. "He was doing some light practice, doing some things with us last week already. So, I think he expects — his mindset’s been awesome with what he had injury-wise, too. Just the recovery and the response; his mindset’s helped him come back even quicker."

Noah Rogers suffered an injury during Alabama's A-Day scrimmage back in the spring and was expected to miss at least the first half of the season. Rogers is well ahead of his recovery timeline and is quickly approaching making his Alabama debut after participating in pregame warmups for the first two games.

"Noah, just really - we took him on the trip; he didn’t play. We weren’t expecting him to play, but that kind of gives an indication, I think, of how close we are. And again, we’ll see how the week of practice goes. But I would say in the next week or two, you can see him out there helping us out. So again, not 100% sure, but getting there."

No. 10 Alabama will host Florida State on Saturday, September 19. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.