Midweek injury updates on Malachi Moore, CJ Dippre, Terrence Ferguson
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama head coach Nick Saban offered the latest updates on a trio of injured Crimson Tide football players after Wednesday’s practice of Tennessee game week.
Saban was first asked about defensive back Malachi Moore and tight end CJ Dippre. Moore did not play last week against Arkansas after sustaining an ankle injury against Texas A&M in Week 6. Dippre sustained a pulled muscle in the Homecoming win over the Razorbacks.
“Both guys have practiced, so I think if they continue to progress like they have, they’ve got a good chance to play,” Saban said Wednesday. “But nobody can predict that right now.”
Moore is Alabama’s starting Star, or nickel defensive back, and manned that first-team spot in the first six games of the season prior to his injury. The senior was able to go through pregame warmups last week, and Saban sounded optimistic about his status for this week. When Moore was out, the Tide used both Terrion Arnold and Caleb Downs at the Star position.
Dippre needed help off the field on an incompletion near the goal line in the third quarter of last week’s win over Arkansas. The tight end visited the sideline medical tent and was later spotted on the sideline with his right thigh wrapped and moved around while using a crutch.
Also suffering an injury last week was linebacker Trezmen Marshall, who is dealing with bruised ribs. But Marshall was made available for interviews Tuesday and said he is “feeling great.”
Because of that, Saban wasn’t asked about Marshall’s status Wednesday evening, but he was pressed for an update on offensive lineman Terrence Ferguson, who has missed the last three outings with an ankle injury. Alabama’s next man up at the guard positions, Ferguson has been able to warm up prior to the last couple of games, and he is nearing a return.
“He’s doing better,” Saban said. “He’s practicing every week. I think he’s getting better every week. I think he’s closer to probably 100 percent this week than he has been. Those high-ankle sprains are not easy to sort of get over. It takes a little while to develop the ability to push off and have explosive power, which is hard to play in the offensive line if you don’t have that.
“He’s worked his tail off to get where he is, and he’s really worked hard in practice and gone through a lot to get back to where he is. But I think he’s getting pretty close to being where we need him to be.”
Alabama will play host to Tennessee on Saturday, Oct. 21, for a 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff (CBS).
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