Alabama Injury Updates: Kalen DeBoer’s Latest on Five Starters Ahead of Playoff Run
Two Alabama defensive starters exited Saturday’s SEC Championship Game against Georgia and did not return to the field. Linebacker Justin Jefferson and cornerback Zabien Brown left in the third quarter and received attention from the sideline medical staff.
On Sunday, during a Zoom briefing about Alabama’s College Football Playoff matchup with Oklahoma, head coach Kalen DeBoer offered the latest on Brown and Jefferson. "We haven’t received the official reports yet, but based on last night’s severity, I’d expect both to be good to go with the week off ahead of us," DeBoer said.
Jefferson logged 30 plays in the 28-7 defeat to the Bulldogs and totaled four tackles before exiting. Nikhai Hill-Green replaced him and played 48 snaps, leading Alabama’s defense with seven tackles.
Brown appeared in 38 snaps, recording two tackles and a tackle for loss. Cornerback Domani Jackson played most of the game with 62 snaps, starting opposite Brown, as true freshman Dijon Lee Jr. filled in at times while dealing with an injury. Lee played 22 snaps.
Also on Sunday, DeBoer provided updates on defensive lineman LT Overton, running back Jam Miller, and tight end Josh Cuevas, all of whom were sidelined for Saturday’s title game due to injuries or illness.
"Jam is the closest of the three to returning, comfortably in a position to be ready to contribute at a high level," DeBoer said. "Josh is progressing; we’re evaluating him daily. The next four to five days matter a lot for all these players. We’ll also continue to assess LT and integrate Kelby Collins into the mix, given some illnesses in the group. I’m optimistic about many of these guys."
Alabama is set to travel to Oklahoma for a Friday, December 19, 7 p.m. CT matchup (ESPN & ABC).
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Would you like this rewrite tailored toward a more casual fan audience or kept in a formal, sports-news style? Also, should any additional context or examples be added to explain common football injury reporting terms for beginners?
