Alabama will head into its matchup with Texas A&M a little shorthanded due to injuries, but the Crimson Tide also hurt its roster by suspending a player.
The Crimson Tide has suspended defensive back Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. for violating team rules, as team spokesman confirmed to The Tuscaloosa News according to Colin Gay.
Kirkpatrick is in his junior season with the Crimson Tide and has recorded five combined tackles and one pass defended in seven games this season.
Kirkpatrick is the son of Alabama legend defensive back Dre Kirkpatrick, who played for the Crimson Tide from 2009 to 2011 and won two national titles.
As of 3:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, there is no update on which team violation Kirkpatrick Jr. committed that led to Alabama suspending him.
Alabama Has Ruled Out a Handful of Players
The Crimson Tide have ruled out 10 players for Saturday’s game.
WR Ryan Coleman-Williams
DB Zabien Brown
LB Desmond Umeozulu
RB EJ Crowell
DB Dre Kirkpatrick Jr.
LB Cayden Jones
DB Nick Sherman
OL Racin Delgatty
DL Jeremiah Beaman
DL Terrance Green
Ryan Coleman-Williams Will Miss His Second Game
Alabama will miss its No. 1 wide receiver again as Coleman-Williams recovers from arthroscopic knee surgery to repair a meniscus injury. He had the surgery right before Week 7’s matchup with Tennessee.
Coleman-Williams has 23 receptions for 415 yards and four scores this season.
ESPN’s Alex Scarborough reported on Oct. 10 that Coleman’s return timeline is unclear.
“While the timeline for his return is unclear, sources told ESPN that Coleman-Williams is considered week-to-week,” Scarborough wrote.
After Alabama plays Texas A&M, it will head into a bye week before returning to the road to play LSU.
That would give Coleman-Williams about a month off since he last saw the field, and maybe he could return to play LSU, but that is still a big if at this point.
LSU defeated Auburn on Saturday, and the Tigers will now head into a bye week. This sets up a potential playoff elimination game in Baton Rouge on Nov. 7, assuming Alabama beats Texas A&M and enters Death Valley with two losses, like LSU.
Alabama Suspends Son of Crimson Tide Legend Ahead of Texas A&M Clash