Alright, so Kalen DeBoer just dropped some real talk on the injury front for the Tide, and honestly, if you’re a Florida State fan, you should probably be sweating. We’re talking about the potential 2026 season debuts of Noah Rogers and AK Dear, both guys who’ve been sidelined, and DeBoer sounded *way* more confident about their returns than you might expect. After missing the Week 2 win against Kentucky, the coach gave us the lowdown, and it sounds like these dudes could be suiting up for the home opener this Saturday. Seriously, FSU, watch out.
The Big Guns Are Coming Back
Let’s break down these two impact players. AK Dear, man, he’s making some serious progress. DeBoer said he was “getting closer towards the end of the week” before the Kentucky game, and now it’s a “reset” for this week. The fact he was already doing “light practice” last week with the team? That’s not just a hopeful sign; that’s a *major* signal. Coach DeBoer even highlighted Dear’s “awesome mindset” and how it’s speeding up his recovery. You gotta love that fire from a player. Then there’s Noah Rogers. This is where it gets real interesting. DeBoer straight up said they “took him on the trip” to Kentucky. He didn’t play, they didn’t expect him to, but the coach pointed out that traveling with the team “gives an indication” of just how close Rogers is to playing. We’re talking “next week or two,” DeBoer said. You don’t take a guy on the road just for kicks. It means he’s literally knocking on the door, ready to help out. This could be HUGE.
O-Line Shuffle and a Welcome Return
Now, not all the news is about guys coming back. Michael Carroll, our starting right guard, missed the Kentucky game, his first missed start all season. DeBoer’s working with him, feeling “confident that we’ll get there,” and hoping Carroll’s “heading in a good direction” to get him back. You know the O-line is the heartbeat of this offense, so having your starting right guard out is never ideal. William Sanders stepped up and moved to right guard in Carroll’s place, and Mal Waldrep Jr. got his first start ever at left guard. It’s a next-man-up mentality, but you want your starters back as soon as humanly possible. On a brighter note, Jireh Edwards, who was also hurt in fall camp, made his 2026 season debut at Kentucky, snagging one tackle with a TFL. That’s a solid return to action, showing that guys are grinding to get back on the field.
The Crimson Tide is back home this Saturday, September 19, taking on Florida State. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC. With the whispers of Dear and Rogers getting closer to the field, and Carroll hopefully not far behind, this game against FSU is gonna be a massive test for where this team is at. What kind of impact will these potential returns have? This could be the spark the Tide needs to really start rolling!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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