Kalen DeBoer gives positive updates on multiple injured Alabama players ahead of playoff

Alabama football’s head coach Kalen DeBoer gave multiple positive injury updates on Crimson Tide players ahead of the first round of the playoff.

The Tide’s starting inside linebacker, Justin Jefferson and Alabama’s starting cornerback, Zabien Brown both went down with injuries against Georgia in the SEC Championship, but DeBoer does not expect those injuries to be long term.

“We haven’t met and got the report, but just going off of last night, I would expect with the severity that they’ll both be good to go with a whole week off here and stuff,” DeBoer said on Sunday.

Multiple Alabama starters and key contributors missed the SEC Championship game. DeBoer shared updates on Jam Miller, Josh Cuevas, LT Overton and Kelby Collins.

“Jam, I feel, is probably the farthest along if I really kind of put that kind of in order, feel really that he’s got a really strong chance of being not just available but ready to go at a level he can compete and do some good things for us,” DeBoer told reporters. “Josh, he’s on his way, kind of just got to keep evaluating with him. I’m holding on to some pretty good hope, but we’ll see. He hasn’t seen our training staff yet today, but every day here now, the next four or five days, they all matter. They all matter for all these guys. And then we’ll continue to evaluate, just where LT’s at, add Kelby Collins to the mix there too, with some of their illnesses and stuff like that, that they’re going through. I’m optimistic on a lot of these guys.”

Alabama will take on Oklahoma in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Dec. 19.