Nick Saban updates injury status of Malachi Moore, CJ Dippre
Alabama were down a couple of players to injury during Saturday’s 24-21 victory over Arkansas, but none more impactful than safety Malachi Moore. Ahead of Week 8, head coach Nick Saban updated the status of his standout defender, as well as tight end CJ Dippre.
“Both guys practiced, so I think if they continue to progress like they have, they have a good chance to play,” Saban said on Wednesday. “But nobody can predict that right now.”
Moore went down with a twisted ankle during the Texas A&M game two weeks ago, so this is a rather positive update for him. The injury occured in the second quarter and saw Moore unable to put any pressure on his right leg. After he spent time in the medical tent, Moore sat in the front seat of a cart and went to the locker room. He was on Alabama’s sideline in the second half in street clothes with a walking boot on his foot.
The same positive notion was also given for Dippre, and there were no negative updates on Trezmen Marshall and James Burnip, both of who are nursing injuries of their own.
The update that Saban gave on Dippre and Mashall during the postgame press conference was vague. While he said that one of them pull and muscle and the other bruised a rib, he did not disclose which injury happen to which player.
Burnip left the game at Texas A&M in the second quarter, as he suffered “a pulled muscle in his leg” in pursuit of Aggies returner Ainias Smith. After visiting the sideline medical tent, he walked to the locker room with members of Alabama’s medical staff. Burnip would later return and even held for kicker Will Reichard, but he did not punt for the rest of the game. He did punt against Arkansas, but the pulled muscle has still been giving him some trouble.
As Alabama continues its preparation for Tennessee’s visit to Tuscaloosa, Saban needs all hands on deck if the Crimson Tide want to get their win back from the Vols from one year ago. While various injuries haven’t seemed to hinder Alabama’s winning way over the past few weeks, Tennessee presents arguably the toughest test remaining on their schedule this season.
The opening kickoff for Saturday’s matchup between the Crimson Tide and Volunteers is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET live on CBS. Alabama is an 8.5-point favorite over Tennessee heading into the final stretch of game week, per FanDuel Sportsbook. The over/under point total is set at 48.5 points.