As Alabama kicks off its spring practice season it will be doing so without two of its more experienced defenders.
Nick Saban shared during his first press conference of the spring that inside linebacker Deontae Lawson and outside linebacker Dallas Turner will not participate in the spring as the two recover from injuries.
“Deontae Lawson and Dallas Turner are two guys that are probably out of the spring completely,” Saban said. “Both guys have had surgeries. Shouldn’t be any issues for them moving forward but they’re probably out for the entire spring.”
Lawson, a redshirt sophomore, appeared in 11 games in 2022 recording 51 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and four pass deflections. Turner who is entering this third season with the program and second as a full-time starter posted 37 total tackles, eight tackles for loss and four sacks in 2022.
Saban also provided several other injury updates throughout the roster but Lawson and Turner are the only two who will not be seeing any action this spring.
Defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe, who suffered a season-ending neck injury last year, will be working back to the field this spring but will be limited. Others in the same camp as Eboigbe are running back Roydell Williams, tight end Robbie Ouzts, defensive back DeVonta Smith and defensive lineman Jah-Marien Latham.
“Roydell Williams and DeVonta Smith both are recovering from injuries but probably will be able to return at some point during spring practice,” Saban said. “And then Robbie Ouzts, Jah-Marien Latham and Justin Eboigbe will be able to do certain things in practice, but they will be limited to some of the things that they can and can’t do and probably won’t be able to have full contact or be involved in the scrimmage at all this year.”
**This story will be updated.**
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
