Bryce Young has been able to do some things in practice ahead of Alabama football‘s game against Texas A&M, coach Nick Saban said Wednesday on the SEC coaches teleconference.
Young remains day-to-day after he was dealing with a shoulder injury that he suffered against Arkansas last week.
“No decision is going to be made until he decides and we decide from a medical staff standpoint whether he can go out there and functionally do his job,” Saban said.
Meanwhile, reserve linebacker Demouy Kennedy is out for the season with a knee injury, Saban announced. He is a junior linebacker from Theodore High School who primarily has served as a special teams player this season. Kennedy has tallied one total tackle this season. He had seven in 2021.
No. 1 Alabama (5-0, 2-0 SEC) will face Texas A&M (3-2, 1-1) on Saturday (7 p.m., CBS) at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
ALABAMA FOOTBALL:Alabama football and Texas A&M defenses face similar challenges this week
BRYCE YOUNG:If Bryce Young misses time, which Alabama football players must play at high level?
Young’s status has been day-to-day from what Saban has said ever since Saturday. After the game, Saban said Young had a “little AC sprain” in the quarterback’s shoulder. Saban has emphasized that he doesn’t think it’s serious and that it’s not long term.
“We didn’t think he could go back in the game today because I don’t think he had much steam on throwing the ball,” Saban said Saturday. “He’s had these before, and in a few days, he starts to respond pretty well, so we’ll just have to see how it goes and play it day-to-day.”
On the play, Young landed on his right shoulder as he was trying to evade pressure and looking to make a play.
On Monday, Saban made clear it’s important that Young doesn’t put himself in a bad position when he tries to make plays.
“He could have thrown the ball away before, and he could have just let the guy tackle him,” Saban said. “In either case, he probably wouldn’t have an issue. himself in the awkward position of trying to throw the ball on his way down and landing the way he did, just try to avoid those kind of circumstances and situations for any injury. That’s not a criticism. It’s a teaching moment that players have to learn.”
If Young can’t go, Jalen Milroe is expected to fill in for him again. He took over for Young in the second quarter, and helped manage the offense to a 49-26 win over Arkansas.
Milroe went 4-for-9 passing for 65 yards and one touchdown, but he did more damage as a runner. He finished with 91 rushing yards on six carries and one touchdown.
Saban praised him for how he managed the game Saturday.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Bryce Young injury update and Alabama football linebacker out for season