Report: Malachi Moore expected to play vs. Texas, Jaylen Key TBD
Alabama fans just received positive news. On Friday, ESPN’s Chris Low provided an update on Alabama’s defensive back Malachi Moore and safety Jalen Key‘s status ahead of Saturday’s matchup against Texas.
“Some good news for [Alabama football’s] defense,” Low wrote on Twitter. “Sources tell ESPN that senior DB/star Malachi Moore is expected to play Saturday against Texas after being injured last week in the opener. Still TBD on safety Jaylen Key.”
Both players left Alabama’s 56-7 season-opening win over Middle Tennessee State with undisclosed injuries. After the game, Alabama head coach Nick Saban was uncertain of the status of the two pivotal pieces.
“We got a couple guys banged up,” Saban said Saturday night. “I don’t know the extent of their injuries – Jaylen Key and Malachi Moore both. But we’ll see how that goes. They’ll get evaluated tomorrow and probably know more soon.”
The 71-year-old head coach continued to provide updates on his defensive backs throughout the week.
“They’re able to practice. Just how much they’re able to practice and how close to 100% they can get by game time will be the big question that we’ll have to answer. And that probably is not something that we can comment on until we get to that point,” Saban said on Monday.
Alabama has reached that point. While Key’s status is still uncertain, the team will field Moore. The Crimson Tide will take on No. 11 Texas at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Nick Saban evaluates Texas offense
Even if Alabama boasts all its defensive pieces, Saban isn’t overlooking the Longhorns’ offensive prowess. During Thursday’s episode of “Hey Coach & The Nick Saban Show,” Saban complimented Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers‘ game.
“He’s a really good player, very good passer, very accurate with a ball, good decision-maker,” Saban said. “He’s adequate athletically to be able to move around and avoid people in the pocket. He will run if he needs to, to get a first down.
“I wouldn’t really classify him as a guy that you would say is a dual threat guy from that standpoint, but athletic enough to make a play if he needs to. And he’s a really, really good passer.”
Ewers isn’t the only weapon Saban has his eye on.
“They have a really good system on offense,” Saban said. “They did a lot of motions, a lot of formations, a lot of shifts, a lot of guys being put in different positions where they have an opportunity to make a play. They’ve got a really good tight end, that they utilize really, really well.
“They’re able to run the ball and create balance because they are definitely going to create balance and not just keep dropping back and throwing it. They have really good play-action passes off the running game, and that’s when they take a lot of shots and they’ve made a lot of big players on both clamps and passes and was able to complete the ball. It’s just really good skill guys.”