DeBoer tells why he feels Alabama is healthier now than the Tide was last year

Alabama football’s head coach Kalen DeBoer updated his team’s health during an interview in “McElroy & Cubelic in the Morning on Friday.

DeBoer said he feels the Tide is actually healthier than they were at this point last season.

“I feel like we’re in a way different situation than what we were last year because we’ve just had guys practicing,” DeBoer said. “Last year we had so many guys that were still beat up from the 2024 season that had surgeries at some point, who didn’t really even step on the football field until fall camp, and then were modified and you had to limit the reps. That just led to a camp where it was kinda like, “Okay, who’s available?” And we’ve been able to go strong and still football’s football, and guys get dinged up.”

DeBoer went on to give updates on injured Alabama players.

“Noah Rogers is the one you’re referring to from the spring game,” DeBoer said. “And I tell you what, if you want a lesson in just mindset and how your mind controls everything… Because his timeline, he is much further ahead than what the timeline is that we got back, right around spring game and right after that. He will miss a few games still, but he’s out there going through drills. There is a progression that we have to go through. We have to be smart. We have amazing doctors that will push it, but they won’t, you know, they won’t get reckless, and they have to make sure that all the boxes are checked as we go through, and that. He’s meeting the numbers and feels comfortable himself. And that’s the same with a couple other guys. And so there are some guys that got dinged up in fall camp, but nothing that’s gonna keep guys out beyond, in my mind, four or five games other than, I guess, there’s a Jordan Edmonds would maybe be one of the guys, maybe I’m forgetting someone. But, you know, he’ll be a little bit later through the season, and he’s a freshman corner.”

Alabama opens the 2026 season against East Carolina on Sept. 5.