After leaving last Saturday’s game against LSU, Alabama head coach Nick Saban gave an update on starting center Darrian Dalcourt.
“Darrian Dalcourt does have a lateral ankle sprain,” Saban said to reporters on Monday. “He’s day-to-day right now, I don’t know his status right now for this game, it just depends on how he progresses this week.”
Dalcourt, who’s started every game at center for the Crimson Tide, suffered the sprain on the first drive of the game where he was helped to the team’s medical tent and would not return. To replace Dalcourt, Alabama shifted starting tackle Chris Owens to center and brought in reserve lineman Damieon George at right tackle.
The Crimson Tide’s offensive line struggled to get anything going in the run game against the Tigers, as the offense produced just six rushing yards on the night.
Saban also gave an update on defensive back Jayln Armour-Davis who hurt his ribs against the Tigers. Thankfully for defense, Armour-Davis is expected to practice and be ready to go for the team’s upcoming game against New Mexico State.
“Jayln Armour-Davis is fine, he’ll be ok,” Saban said. “He should be able to practice.”
The Crimson Tide’s secondary was already banged up entering its previous game as the team’s other starting cornerback Josh Jobe dealt with a turf toe injury that held him out from practice all week. Despite being ready to go against LSU, Saban opted to hold Jobe out due to the lack of practice.
“Josh has a turf toe that flared up on him and he wasn’t able to practice,” Saban said to the media following the 20-14 win. “So he could have played in the game, aight, but at the same time, we weren’t gonna play him in the game unless we had to play him in the game. And he was ready to play in the game, but because he hadn’t practiced a lot and the fear of making his toe worse, we would sort of see if we could get it done without him.”
Freshman cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry got the start in Jobe’s place against the Tigers where he finished the game with one tackle.
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
