Nick Saban explains process that will decide if Bryce Young plays vs Tennessee

After missing last week’s game against Texas A&M, Bryce Young has practiced this week, Nick Saban confirmed. However, the Crimson Tide headman is a long way away from making a decision on Young’s availability for Saturday’s game at Tennessee.

During “Hey Coach and the Nick Saban Show” on Thursday, Saban walked through the thought process that will determine if Young can play in the game. He suffered a shoulder sprain in Alabama’s win over Arkansas Oct. 1 and hasn’t played since.

However, Young has practiced in a limited capacity this week, which means he’s taking steps toward playing soon. That said, Saban said it’ll come down to how the reigning Heisman Trophy winner feels Saturday ahead of kickoff. Until then, his status remains up in the air.

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“Bryce has practiced some this week, and I think it comes down to does he feel and do we feel that he can throw the ball effectively enough?” Saban said. “He’s not going to hurt himself by doing it. I just don’t know how much it will hurt him if he does it. He’s done it on a limited basis. That’s the question, and nobody’s going to know that until Saturday comes, aight? He won’t know it, I won’t know it, nobody will know it. I know he wants to play and I know he thinks he can play, and we’ll see. We’ll see.”

In Young’s absence last week, Alabama narrowly defeated Texas A&M after the Aggies failed to get into the end zone on the final play of the game. Jalen Milroe started the game in Young’s place after replacing him during the Arkansas game, and the expectation is he’ll be back under center if Young can’t play against Tennessee.

During his press conference Wednesday night, Saban said Young has been on a “pitch count” as he ramps up his practice work load, meaning the staff is monitoring his progress close.

“Bryce continues to practice a little bit more,” Saban said. “We’ve got him on a little bit of a ‘pitch count’ to kind of wean him back into it and see how it goes. We expect him to do even a little bit more tomorrow. That’s all I really have to say about that.”