Injury Update: Alabama Players Returning To Health In Time For SEC Title Game
For the most part, Alabama is getting healthy just in time for Saturday's SEC Championship Game against Missouri.
Left tackle Cam Robinson, wide receiver ArDarius Stewart and tight end Brian Vogler have also been practicing this week but are likely to play, Alabama coach Nick Saban said Wednesday night.
Linebacker Denzel Devall is the "most questionable" player on Alabama's roster to play on Saturday against Missouri, though he has been able to go through drills this week.
"I think all these guys we’ll have to evaluate how they progress the rest of the week, how they respond to the activity that they’ve done," Saban said. "Some of them might even be we have to decide before the game type of things. Most of the time when guys can practice ... as long as they don’t have a setback, chances are they’ll be able to contribute in the game."
Robinson went down with a sprained shoulder during the fourth quarter of last Saturday's win over Auburn and did not return. He was replaced at left tackle by Austin Shepherd, who shifted over from his usual right tackle spot during Robinson's absence. Backup Grant Hill came off the bench to play right tackle.
Stewart and Vogler were injured with stretched knee ligaments against Western Carolina two weeks ago and have been limited ever since. Vogler was on the field for the final play of the Iron Bowl, a kneel down by Blake Sims. Stewart did not play at all due to the injury.
Devall sustained an ankle injury on the Thursday prior to Western Carolina two weeks ago and has not played in either game since. Earlier this season, Devall had a high ankle sprain at Ole Miss that caused him to miss the following three games.
Saban also announced that Adam Griffith, who has played through an undisclosed injury for much of the season, was able to kickoff for the first time in weeks in practice Wednesday. Saban said he was confident in either Griffith or JK Scott doing kickoffs, which he has done the past two weeks against Auburn and Western Carolina.
"Adam is certainly a little more experienced in putting the ball in the right place. JK has done a really good job for us, so we don’t really have any issues with him doing it," Saban said. "I do think that Griff, because of range and accuracy, is definitely helpful. And also he gets the ball up fast, so we really need him on field goals."