Alabama will be going into Saturday’s Iron Bowl matchup against Auburn a bit more banged up than Nick Saban would like. Saban gave a few final injury updates on defensive tackle DJ Dale and linebacker Drew Sanders before the team departs for the holidays.
Dale suffered a knee injury during warmups of the Crimson Tide’s previous matchup against Arkansas. Following the game, Saban described the injury as just a scare but now Dale and mentioned that he did practice today and his progression will be monitored up until Saturday.
“DJ Dale practiced today,” Saban said to reporters on Wednesday. “Probably wasn’t 100 percent but this is something that will get better and better. We’ll see how he progresses.”
Saban was also asked for an update on Sanders, who has seen action in the team’s previous three games after missing a pair with a hand injury suffered following the Ole Miss game. Since then, freshman linebacker Dallas Turner has taken over the starting role and thrived over the course of his absence.
Although its been a challenge playing with a club on his hand, Saban reported that Sanders is doing fine.
“Drew Sanders is doing fine,” Saban said. “It’s a little tougher for him to use that hand when he’s got that cast on his hand. Dallas Turner has done a really nice job for us as a freshman.”
Alabama kicks off against Auburn at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Nov. 27 with CBS on the call.
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
