TUSCALOOSA, Ala.– Alabama football is on its bye week after eight consecutive games of grinding. Following its win over Tennessee, head coach Nick Saban anticipates getting players healthy and continuing a steady game plan.
As he spoke at Birmingham for the Monday Morning Quarterback Club, Saban updated injury statuses on defensive end Da’Shawn Hand and running back Josh Jacobs. Hand, who missed the last three games due to a medial collateral ligament in his knee, is expected to play next week.
“Da’Shawn will be working out all week,” Saban said. “We do expect him to be able to practice and we’ll see how it goes to see if he’s ready to play next week.”
Hand’s injury occurred against Mississippi back on Sept. 30.
Jacobs, on the other hand, sustained an ankle injury against the Volunteers.
“He’ll probably be in a boot for a few days, but he’ll be okay,” Saban said of Jacobs.
The sophomore from Tulsa, Okla., suffered a hamstring injury prior to the season starting. His performances in meetings versus the Rebels and Tennessee appeared to have a former three-star prospect looking back to how he was during his freshman year, when he accounted for 723 all-purpose yards (567 rushing, 156 receiving) and four touchdowns.
While Hand has totaled 11 tackles – including 1.5 tackles for loss and one sack through five games – Jacobs chimes in with 267 total yards (171 rushing, 96 receiving) in six matchups.
Alabama will host LSU on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 7:00 p.m. (CT) via CBS.
Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
