With hearing rough news after the injuries to Trey Sanders and Joshua McMillon, Nick Saban brought some comforting information on Alabama’s injury front on Thursday.
The Crimson Tide had a couple of players dinged up before and during its first scrimmage; however, those guys will be back soon. LaBryan Ray, a junior defensive end, has returned to practice since having ankle surgery and is working on a “limited basis” according to Saban.
Both DJ Dale and Stephon Wynn sustained injuries last week, but both are fine.
“Stephon Wynn has a high ankle sprain and he’ll probably be out for a week,” Saban said. “We expect DJ Dale to start practicing on a limited basis tomorrow.”
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Prior to suffering a sprained knee, Dale was taking first-team reps at nose guard.
The four-star from Pinson, Ala., is expected to start this season.
He was a standout all through spring practice and excelled in the summer workout program.
In his absence, Phidarian Mathis has been worked at defensive tackle.
Wynn, a four-star from South Carolina, played in three games in 2018.
He got hurt in fall camp and would miss the first two games of his freshman season, until he got cleared to play against Mississippi.
The 6-foot-4, 311-pounder was one of the nation’s top defensive end prospects out of high school. He is a rotational piece for now, but Wynn has the potential to be a starter at some point.
Alabama will have its final scrimmage on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium at 1:00 p.m. CT.
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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.