Alabama’s football team made it through its first preseason practice game on Saturday without any major injuries, according to head coach Kalen DeBoer. The Crimson Tide conducted the practice behind closed doors at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
“I’ve stayed relatively healthy, which is just typical fall camp stuff,” DeBoer said after the practice game. “The guys picked up a few dings here and there, but nothing more than you would expect.”
Alabama came into training camp relatively healthy. Wide receiver Jalen Hale will likely miss the season because of a serious leg injury he suffered in the spring, but otherwise nothing serious has happened.
Freshman defensive back Zabien Brown wore a stick on his left hand during practice, but DeBoer said this week that the injury was not serious and the stick could be removed soon.
After the practice game, DeBoer was asked about the area of greatest concern for his team and mentioned the need to avoid injuries as the 2024 season approaches.
“Probably just stay healthy, you know?” DeBoer said. “Once again, I’m happy with where we are. This will be our biggest scrimmage. We’ll make most of the plays. We have a scrimmage next week, too, but it won’t be quite as many, it’ll be solid. But we just have to stay healthy. We need all the reps.”
According to DeBoer, Alabama ran 102 plays during Saturday’s practice, with 81 of those plays going to the first and second teams, with those plays split almost evenly between the one- and two-man teams.
DeBoer mentioned Alabama’s youth at certain positions while emphasizing the importance of staying healthy.
“We have some veterans, there’s no doubt about that, but we certainly have a lot of young players that need to develop and that are important,” DeBoer said. “If they’re not in the one-man rotation, they’re definitely in the two-man (deep rotation), so those reps are invaluable for these guys, not only for them, but for the confidence that it takes as a whole unit. I think that’s the most important thing, just because our youth is in different position groups.”
Alabama returns to the field on Sunday for its open Fan Day practice at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Tide opens the season on Aug. 31 against Western Kentucky in Tuscaloosa.
Before his first game as Nick Saban’s replacement, DeBoer said he was pleased with the care the players were taking to ensure their health.
“The guys do a great job with their bodies,” DeBoer said. “Whenever they have a chance, in overtime, they’re in the training room and they do a good job. And right before practice, after practice, they do what they’re supposed to do. They’re professionals. And those championship habits, you see they really take them seriously and give them importance.”
