Alabama football has several players considered day-to-day ahead of the SEC Championship Game because of injuries, Nick Saban said Thursday.
Running back Brian Robinson Jr. is at the top of that list as he deals with a pulled muscle suffered late in the Iron Bowl.
“We’re doing some things with him today in practice to see how he responds,” Saban said. “So it’s going to be day-to-day, so we’re just going to have to see how it goes.”
Robinson’s absence would be significant when No. 2 Alabama (11-1, 7-1 SEC) faces No. 1 Georgia (12-0, 8-0) at 3 p.m. Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Alabama is already without three scholarship running backs because of injury. Robinson is the starter, and if he can’t go Trey Sanders would be the only healthy scholarship running back available.
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Starting center Darrian Dalcourt is also a question mark after he had to leave the Iron Bowl with an ankle injury that has been nagging him.
“Pretty much the same situation as B-Rob’s in,” Saban said. “He’s been able to practice on a limited basis. We’ll see what he can do today and how he responds to it. It’s going to be a day-to-day situation as well.”
With Dalcourt having to leave the game, Seth McLaughlin entered in his place. Chris Owens could have been another option at center, but he had already replaced a struggling Damieon George at right tackle in the game.
Starting cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis’ availability for the game is also uncertain. He didn’t play in the Auburn game while dealing with a “little hip injury.”
With him out, Josh Jobe and freshman Kool-Aid McKinstry started against Auburn at cornerback. McKinstry, a freshman, had a crucial sack and pass breakup late in the game.
“(Jalyn’s) been able to do just a limited amount of things,” Saban said. “He doesn’t play a position where if he’s not full speed he can be expected to play. But we’re still going to sort of look at him on a day-to-day basis too and see how he progresses. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
Meanwhile, Saban ruled out two players in fullback Robbie Ouzts and punt returner JoJo Earle. The fullback has a stress fracture while Earle has a left lower-body injury.
“Jojo is making progress,” Saban said. “I don’t think enough to be able to play in the game at this point. But probably will be back sometime shortly.”
Saban said on Nov. 18 that Earle would be out two to three weeks. Earle was Alabama’s primary punt returner and an option as a slot receiver, too.
Contact Alabama reporter Nick Kelly: nkelly@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @_NickKelly
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Nick Saban provides injury updates on Brian Robinson Jr., four others