Nick Saban reveals injury status of Terrion Arnold, Trezmen Marshall

Alabama rolled Tennessee in the second half, getting back to winning ways on the Third Saturday of October. A come-from-behind victory, Nick Saban watched his defense pitch a shutout in the second half. However, it was without starting cornerback Terrion Arnold, who was in street clothes coming out of halftime.

Following the game, Saban revealed Arnold suffered a concussion. He went through protocol but was not cleared and Alabama was not going to put him back on the field for safety reasons. Saban hopes Arnold will not be held out for too long.

“Terrion (Arnold) has a slight concussion,” Saban said during his postgame press conference. “He didn’t clear protocol, so the thing that you do is not play the guy for safety reasons. Hopefully, in a few days, he’ll clear.”

Arnold has been the starting cornerback all season on the other side of Kool-Aid McKinstry. Whenever he went down with his concussion, Jaylen Key was the one to replace him. Key is someone Saban has expressed confidence in but hopes Arnold returns soon.

And then there is Trezmen Marshall, somebody who did not even play against Tennessee. Jihaad Campbell started at linebacker while Marshall dealt with a rib problem. He was able to practice throughout the week but no contact was involved.

“Trezmen Marshall has brusied ribs,” Saban said. “I always ask the player ‘Do you think you can play?’ And even though he was able to practice a little bit — in a black jersey. So, he could move around decent enough but every time he would bump somebody, it was a problem.

“Hopefully, in two weeks, he’ll be okay.”

Saban mentions two weeks because Alabama does not have a game next weekend. They will enjoy the Tennessee win before watching the rest of the country play on Saturday. Next up will be LSU coming to Tuscaloosa on Nov. 4, a game likely to decide who represents the SEC West in Atlanta.

Marshall will be able to practice over the next two weeks and hopefully will have the black jersey taken off at some point. Alabama is comfortable with the group they have at linebacker but Marshall has been a nice veteran presence since transferring in from Georgia.

He and Arnold are two key defensive players Saban will want back on the field ahead of the LSU matchup. As it does with every team around the country, the bye week is coming at the right time.