Alabama Injury Update: DeBoer Says Crowell, Brooks Won’t Miss Games, But AK Dear’s Injury Raises Concerns — READ MORE
Alabama football’s first fall scrimmage of the 2026 season delivered plenty of excitement, but it also left Crimson Tide fans watching closely for injury updates. Head coach Kalen DeBoer provided updates on three notable offensive players — running backs EJ Crowell and AK Dear, along with wide receiver Lotzeir Brooks — with the biggest uncertainty surrounding Dear.
The good news for Alabama is that DeBoer does not expect Crowell or Brooks to miss any games. However, Dear’s situation has developed into a much more concerning storyline after the sophomore running back suffered an injury during Thursday’s scrimmage.
Crowell Expected Back Before Games Begin
EJ Crowell was one of the players Alabama fans were hoping to see during the first scrimmage, but the highly touted freshman did not participate.
According to DeBoer, Crowell will miss a few practices but is not expected to be sidelined when the regular season begins. That is significant news for a player who has already dealt with an injury setback since arriving in Tuscaloosa.
“EJ did not scrimmage today,” DeBoer explained, adding that Crowell would be out for a few practices but “won’t miss any games down the road.”
Crowell arrived at Alabama with enormous expectations after reclassifying into the 2026 recruiting class. The former five-star prospect was one of the most productive high school running backs in Alabama, and the Crimson Tide views him as an important piece of its future rushing attack.
His absence from the scrimmage therefore attracted attention, but DeBoer’s comments should provide some relief. Rather than preparing for a lengthy absence, Alabama appears to be taking a cautious approach and allowing Crowell additional time to recover before returning to full participation.
Brooks Also Not Expected to Miss a Game
Alabama’s wide receiver room also had a notable absence Thursday as Lotzeir Brooks did not participate in the scrimmage.
Brooks had already missed a couple of practices, and DeBoer said he expects the sophomore receiver to sit out a few more practices. Crucially, however, the Alabama coach does not anticipate Brooks missing any games.
That is important for Alabama because Brooks is expected to have a much bigger role in the Crimson Tide offense this season.
As a freshman in 2025, Brooks appeared in 14 games and recorded 32 receptions for 441 yards and two touchdowns. His experience and production make him an important option as Alabama continues to develop its passing game heading into the 2026 season.
For now, Alabama fans can breathe a little easier regarding Brooks. Missing practices during fall camp is obviously not ideal, but the expectation from DeBoer is that the receiver will be available when the games count.
AK Dear Injury Creates the Biggest Concern
The situation surrounding AK Dear is different.
Dear entered Thursday’s scrimmage hoping to make an impression as Alabama continues to evaluate its running back rotation. Instead, the sophomore delivered a promising performance before being forced to leave with an injury.
DeBoer confirmed that Dear had been having a strong scrimmage and had even scored a touchdown before suffering the injury.
“AK did suffer an injury,” DeBoer said, explaining that Alabama would evaluate Dear and determine the severity.
That uncertainty immediately made Dear one of the biggest injury storylines surrounding Alabama football.
The timing is particularly unfortunate because Dear was competing for an increased role after appearing in five games last season. He rushed 19 times for 149 yards and three touchdowns in 2025, showing enough potential for Alabama to expect more from him as a sophomore.
Reports emerging after the scrimmage have suggested that Dear could miss extended time, with some reports indicating an ankle injury and a possible six-week absence. Those details should be treated cautiously until Alabama officially confirms the diagnosis and timetable.
Why Dear’s Status Matters
Dear’s potential absence could create another challenge for an Alabama running back room that was already dealing with Crowell’s temporary setback.
The Crimson Tide still has options, including Daniel Hill, Kevin Riley, Trae’shawn Brown and Khalifa Keith, but losing Dear for an extended period would reduce the team’s depth and potentially change how Alabama distributes carries during the opening weeks of the season.
The good news is that Alabama’s coaching staff has several weeks to evaluate its options before the regular season begins. The Crimson Tide is scheduled to open the 2026 season against East Carolina on September 5.
That gives Dear time to undergo further evaluation and gives the coaching staff an opportunity to determine the best path forward.
Alabama Fans Now Await the Next Update
For Alabama, the injury picture following the first fall scrimmage is a mixture of relief and concern.
Crowell is expected to miss only a few practices, and DeBoer does not expect him to miss a game. Brooks is also expected to return after missing several practices and is not currently expected to miss game action.
Dear, however, remains the biggest question.
His injury occurred during what DeBoer described as a promising scrimmage, making the development especially frustrating. Alabama will now wait for further medical evaluation before providing a clearer timetable.
For Crimson Tide fans, the next few days could be critical. Any official update on Dear’s condition could significantly change expectations for Alabama’s running back rotation heading into the season.
The bottom line: Alabama appears to have avoided major game-time concerns with Crowell and Brooks, but AK Dear’s injury is the situation everyone will be watching. Until Alabama provides an official timeline, speculation should be treated carefully — but there is no question that Dear’s status has quickly become one of the biggest injury storylines of fall camp.
