Tag: Drew Sanders injury

Nick Saban confirms Drew Sanders is out for Mississippi State

Nick Saban said Drew Sanders is practicing but is not fully ready for game action yet.

Problems at the outside linebacker position across from Will Anderson have continued. After Christopher Allen went down with a foot injury for the season, Drew Sanders was supposed to be the one to step up as the replacement.

Now, Alabama will be without the sophomore for the second consecutive week. Sanders is dealing with a hand injury. Nick Saban said he is practicing but is not fully ready for game action yet.

“He’s out there in pads every day but it’s not safe for him to use his hand yet,” said Saban. So he’s not going to play this week.”

With an injury like a hand, being able to lightly practice is possible. Going full contact is where Sanders would be limited, especially at an important position on the edge.

Going into Texas A&M, Saban said Sanders was going to be “game-to-game for a few weeks.” All we can do now is wait for next week’s injury report heading into Tennessee.

Freshman Dallas Turner and sophomore Chris Braswell are still expected to pick up for the injured Sanders. The former was able to record five tackles and one tackle for loss against the Aggies.

Mississippi State will provide a different gameplan, though, with some more rotation from Turner. With how often Mike Leach is going to air it out, the pass rush will need to be subbing in and out for all four quarters. Turner may be the main guy but Braswell will get opportunities.

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Alabama to be without LB Drew Sanders for Texas A&M

Another injury blow for Alabama’s defense.

When Chris Allen went down with an injury, Nick Saban had to turn to youth at the fourth linebacker position. Sophomore Drew Sanders stepped in and was performing nicely.

Now, another replacement is going to be needed as Sanders is going to be missing some time thanks to an injury.

“He has a hand injury,” Saban said. “It required surgery. It was a little, maybe, worse than we thought. So he’s gonna be game-to-game for a few weeks, so we’ll just have to see how it goes.”

Sanders was able to play against Ole Miss, recording five tackles and two quarterback hurries. He was spotted with a cast on Saturday, mainly around his right thumb.

Now, Alabama will be moving onto the third-string SAM. True freshman and former five-star Dallas Turner or redshirt freshman and former five-star Chris Braswell are expected to take over.

“They don’t have a lot of experience,” Saban said. “That’s two starters at the same position that we’ve lost. But Dallas Turner is a good young player, and he’s probably gonna get more opportunity, as well as Chris Braswell, at that position, and those guys have played some. But they’re obviously gonna get more opportunity now.”

Between Turner and Braswell, the two have combined for 12 tackles this season. They’ll be thrown into the ring at College Station, needing to perform in a big way for Alabama.

It’s easy to say “just throw the next five-star guy out there,” and on paper, this is true. But playing an underclassman who has little experience, even in practice, is a different ball game.

Both players will have to adapt quickly against Texas A&M’s offensive before Sanders is back in the lineup in a few weeks.

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