Alabama injury updates before Arkansas: James Burnip, Malachi Moore and more
Alabama football head coach Nick Saban said on the Crimson Tide Sports Network radio broadcast before UA’s game against Arkansas that punter James Burnip will be a game time decision. Burnip injured his leg last week.
Saban was asked about Alabama’s other injuries, which would include defensive back Malachi Moore. He did not make any definitive statements about the status of any other players.
Moore took the field with the rest of his Alabama teammates in full uniform before Saturday’s game. He did not appear to go through full team drills, with Trey Amos getting snaps at corner while Terrion Arnold moved to Moore’s usual star position.
Moore sustained his injury last week at Texas A&M. He was taken off the field with what Nick Saban called a “twisted ankle” and appeared unable to put any weight on his right leg, heading to the locker room and not returning in uniform.
Moore was seen after the TAMU game heading for the team bus on crutches with a boot on. In his absence, Kristian Story and Trey Amos both saw more snaps for the Crimson Tide.
Burnip took the field during warmups for Alabama, punting without pads on, and later appeared in full uniform.. The lone other punter on Alabama’s roster, Nick Serpa, was also punting alongside Burnip.
Burnip was also injured against Texas A&M. Saban described his injury as a pulled muscle in his leg.
He returned to the game after going to the locker room to hold for placekicks, but did not punt again. Alabama kicker Will Reichard took on punting duties in that game, and was listed as the backup punter on the depth chart distributed in the Bryant-Denny Stadium press box before the Arkansas game.
“Malachi and James will both be game-time decisions depending on the progress they make between now and then. But we’re preparing as if neither guy would be able to play, but I can’t say that emphatically,” Saban said Wednesday.
Offensive linemen Darrian Dalcourt and Terrence Ferguson were both dressed out during warmups, snapping to Alabama’s quarterbacks. Jaeden Roberts, who got the start against Texas A&M due to a Dalcourt shoulder injury, appeared to be warming up with the starting offensive line, in Dalcourt’s usual spot.
Alabama and Arkansas are scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m. Saturday. The game will be aired on ESPN.
This story will be updated.