Saban talks injured DBs, suspended WR after Alabama win over MTSU
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama opened its 2023 season with an emphatic 56-7 win over Middle Tennessee on Saturday night at Bryant-Denny Stadium. But the Crimson Tide (1-0) saw two of its first-team defensive backs leave the game with injuries and not return to action.
“We got a couple guys banged up,” head coach Nick Saban said Saturday night. “I don’t know the extent of their injuries – Jaylen Key and Malachi Moore both. But we’ll see how that goes. They’ll get evaluated tomorrow and probably know more soon.”
Shortly after intercepting a pass that led to Alabama’s fourth touchdown of the evening, Key left the field gingerly after covering the ensuing kickoff. Once members of the Tide medical staff attended to the starting safety, he walked to the locker room just before halftime.
Alabama’s lead ballooned to 35-0, and during a Crimson Tide punt return, Moore was slot to get up and visited the sideline medical tent. He eventually exited the field for the locker room.
When Key left the game, he was replaced at safety by Kristian Story. When Moore went down, Trey Amos came off the sideline to play cornerback, while Terrion Arnold moved to Star.
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Alabama seemingly avoided three of its starting defensive backs suffering injuries in the season opener, as Kool-Aid McKinstry absorbed a huge hit on his final punt return of the night. He lost his helmet in the process and did not return to game action after the hit occurred. After the 56-7 victory, McKinstry was made available for interviews and updated his own status.
“I’m feeling alright,” McKinstry said. “I mean, it’s part of football. I play cornerback – I like to deliver hits. And I understand I play punt return now, so I might have to take a few licks.”
Alabama will next play host to No. 11 Texas on Saturday, Sept. 9, at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.
Saban asked about suspended wide receiver
While Key and Moore were not on the field at the end, one of Alabama’s veteran wide receivers was missing from the start of the game. Junior wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks, who led the Tide in receiving touchdowns last year, was on the sideline but did not see any game reps until the second half. He was back deep for the opening kickoff of the third quarter and joined the offense for its first series after halftime, but the veteran didn’t record any stats Saturday.
Saban was asked about Brooks’ absence from the first half following the Week 1 contest.
“He was sitting out the first half for – I know you guys have a job to do and you know how much I love you and want to help you do your job and all that and give you depth charts,” Saban said. “But I’m not gonna reveal to you what a guy did or didn’t to put himself in a position where he sat out the first half. But he sat out the first half.”
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