TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama is taking a wait-and-see approach on the status of starting left tackle Kadyn Proctor, who has a shoulder injury, according to head coach Kalen DeBoer, but avoided serious damage.
Alabama hosts South Florida this Saturday, then goes to Wisconsin the following week. After that, Alabama has a bye week before a showdown against Georgia.
“It’s one that we will be able to manage, so that’s a positive,” DeBoer said. “As the week goes on, it will be something we can continue to evaluate and be hopeful for.”
Proctor initially began warming up Saturday before Alabama’s opener against Western Kentucky but suffered the injury leading up to kickoff and spent the game with his left arm in a sling.
The SEC will have an NFL-style availability report system this year, so Alabama will have to update the status of Proctor and every other player before conference games, beginning on the Wednesday of those game weeks. It’s not required this week.
It’s a setback for Proctor, who started in all 13 of Alabama’s games a season ago, but missed spring practice amid his decision to transfer to and from Iowa.
In his absence, two players who were vying for the starting right tackle position opposite of him saw increased roles. Redshirt sophomore Elijah Pritchett replaced Proctor at left tackle and played 33 snaps Saturday, according to Pro Football Focus. Pritchett went through spring practice as the starting left tackle but has mostly seen reps at the right side this fall with Proctor’s return.
Offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan praised Alabama’s approach to cross-training linemen.
“You want to be able to put your five best out there no matter the circumstances,” he said.
On the right side, redshirt freshman Wilkin Formby also saw 33 snaps with the first team. His position remained unchanged, working at first-team right tackle since spring practice.
“I saw some energy and some excitement out of him,” DeBoer said. “He’s raising his level of physicality, he’s raising his level of communication and talking. … He was very decisive, and really never looking uncomfortable on, ‘I’m supposed to block this guy,’ or assignment-wise.”
In other injury news, cornerback DaShawn Jones has been hampered by a hamstring injury and had only 12 snaps in the opener but is expected to have a regular workload this week against South Florida.
(Photo: Brian Rothmuller / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
