DeBoer gets asked if Alabama will rest Keelon Russell vs. Chattanooga

Kalen DeBoer was asked if the Alabama Crimson Tide would rest Keelon Russell against Chattanooga after the quarterback dealt with an ankle injury last week.

DeBoer revealed he was unsure immediately following the Tide’s win over Vanderbilt on Saturday.

“Yeah, I honestly don’t know,” DeBoer said. “We were just literally playing it. I don’t want to say hour by hour, but we’re definitely playing it day-by-day here throughout this week, and especially the end of the week. We truly didn’t really know the last 24 hours what direction we go and so we will continue to process what we think is best for Keelon and for our football team moving forward, going to the next week. If (Keelon) can go, I’d expect him to go.”

The Alabama head coach revealed Saturday the Tide approached last week with an emphasis on making sure Austin Mack was ready to go at quarterback if needed.

“I think we had to approach him, and I think pretty much all of us were approaching it that he had to be out there, be ready to go, and he was,” DeBoer told reporters. “That’s a hard spot for him to be in. I just can’t give him enough credit. It’s a tough situation, but especially tough because I know he was working extremely hard to get out there and help our team win, and he was prepared to do that. I think our guys saw that. That’s what you appreciate so much about him.”

Alabama takes on Chattanooga at home on Saturday.