If you let the Twitter world tell it, Nick Saban entered his presser following Alabama first scrimmage of fall practice with an injury list as long as the Book of Psalms.
Panic hit the airwaves upon news of linebacker Joshua McMillon’s knee injury getting out.
The Crimson Tide will already be without five-star freshman running Trey Sanders, because of a foot injury he sustained on Thursday evening at practice. At his presser, Saban said Sanders’ foot will require surgery and McMillon’s issue was “concerning” for him.
RELATED: WATCH: Nick Saban presser after first scrimmage for Alabama
Aside from these two, everyone else had minor bumps and bruises.
Saban even mentioned that the team chose to hold out inside linebacker Dylan Moses and offensive lineman Matt Womack from scrimmaging.
No fan wants to see any player from its favorite team get hurt; however, the case of Sanders is not as bad as what it’s being made out. The 6-foot, 214-pounder was a luxury piece this season and despite supporters of Alabama football wanting to see him, the primary duo in the backfield is Najee Harris and Brian Robinson Jr.
Along with those two, both Jerome Ford and Keilan Robinson played well per Saban.
Should the two backups provide the same type of production that Sanders would have given, the Tide is still in great shape to compete for a national title.
The same thing goes for McMillon.
He stands as the guy – opposite Moses – that knows the defense and can get players lined up properly, but a season-ending mishap to him is not a detriment. The senior has played in 18 career games (no starts) and has just 19 tackles to show for it.
This season would have been his year to be “the guy” at weakside linebacker; nonetheless, Alabama has four young guys that must be ready.
A quartet of Shane Lee, Jaylen Moody, Ale Kaho and Markail Benton got reps during the scrimmage.
According to sources, the second-team defense looked “bad” against the first-team offense but that is too be expected – especially when one is facing a prolific group.
It could be a knee strain (MCL) for McMillon, but if the research from the medical staff unveils something more serious, one of these four young guns has an opportunity that it must seize.
Hopefully, his is the last we will hear of injuries in fall practice.
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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 @CoachingMSmith.
