Kalen DeBoer reacts to young Alabama players being ‘thrown to the wolves’ amid injuries

Alabama has not been at full health to start the 2025 season, with some key players missing. Defensive tackle Tim Keenan is one of them, though his injury isn’t expected to keep him out long-term.

The injuries were part of the reason the team struggled in the season opener against Florida State. There were two problem spots for the Crimson Tide.

“I mean, at tight end, Kaleb (Edwards) is the next guy up,” coach Kalen DeBoer said. “That’s really what it’s about. So you’ve got Josh (Cuevas), and Danny (Lewis) has been down again here the last little bit. You go through the depth chart, had another ding or two in the tight end room that pulled some guys out for some plays. Some guys that have been out during camp.

“Marshall (Pritchett) a little bit limited, so that’s where we’re at on the depth chart there. So yeah, there’s going to be young guys. That’s the world we’re in right now. So you’ve got some older guys and then all the sudden there’s a gap and younger guys have got to step on the field and play.”

How well Alabama can fill the gaps remains to be seen. The program should have capable enough depth, but development becomes a question mark.

Are guys ready to step in and contribute now? What about that other problem spot, where Keenan is missing for Alabama?

“Yeah, we go down the depth chart further at the defensive tackle interior list and London (Simmons) has done some nice things as a freshman for us in practice and some consistency there, that we trust him,” DeBoer said. “You’ve got to go out there and he’s getting thrown to the wolves, whatever you want to call it. That was certainly the case, but that’s where we’re at in the rotation.”

Alabama will return to action against UL Monroe this weekend. It’s a game that the team should win, playing at home against an overmatched opponent.

But if players are out hurt, especially at the problem spots of tight end and defensive tackle, who will step up? That’s what DeBoer wants to see out of his Alabama bunch.