There is no team that begins the season and remains the same throughout. Changes, particularly with injuries, are bound to occur. That has been the case with Alabama as the Crimson Tide prepares to play Tennessee on Saturday.
The biggest concern for the Crimson Tide is the status of quarterback Bryce Young, who is dealing with an injured throwing shoulder. The Heisman Trophy winner did not play last week against Texas A&M, which opened the door for Jalen Milroe, who struggled at times, particularly with turnovers.
As one would expect, there has been no solid news from Alabama’s camp concerning Young’s availability. However, there has been widespread speculation that Young will play against Tennessee. Whether or not he plays, the Vols will have to be prepared for both quarterbacks given the uncertainty of the situation.
“The skill sets are a little bit different,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said on Thursday during his last media session of the week. “The thing about both of them is they’re mobile. You’re going to see some of the base offense with whoever is playing.
“You have to prepare and have a plan for both of them anyways depending on how the game unfolds. For us, our defensive players and our coaching staff will have a plan for both.”
Milroe has been highly criticized for his play against the Aggies and rightly so. The freshman threw an interception and lost two fumbles last week that nearly cost Alabama the game. A late goalline stand ended up being the difference.
Milroe certainly didn’t look ready for a prime-time stage. However, he did complete 12 of 19 passes for 111 yards and threw three touchdowns. Still, he looked unsure at times. If Young is able to return, that would obviously bring a great bit of stability to the position and Alabama’s offense, which is exactly why Bama coach Nick Saban isn’t going to tip his hand concerning Young’s availability.
