No. 5 Alabama will head into Saturday's pivotal matchup at No. 14 LSU with three injured starters back in the lineup. Wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams, center Racin Delgatty and defensive tackle Terrance Green have all been cleared to play, the school announced Friday through its NIL entity, Yea Alabama.
Coleman-Williams, a former freshman All-American, had emerged as the Crimson Tide's leading receiver before a knee injury forced him to miss the last two games. He underwent arthroscopic surgery and benefited from the bye week, which gave him additional time to recover before the trip to face the Tigers.
Delgatty, a former transfer regarded as one of the most experienced players on the offensive line, also sat out the past two games, in his case with a lower leg injury. While he was sidelined, Mal Waldrep Jr. stepped in and handled the starting duties at center.
Getting Delgatty back restores flexibility up front for the coaching staff. Left guard William Sanders' status remains unresolved after he was listed as questionable on the SEC availability report released Thursday, and having Delgatty available at center gives Alabama the option of shifting Waldrep over to guard if Sanders cannot go.
Green's return could prove just as significant on the other side of the ball. His absence, caused by a lingering foot injury, was felt keenly in recent games as Georgia and Tennessee both found success running the ball. Without Green's 6-foot-6, 313-pound frame clogging up the middle, the Tide's run defense struggled to hold the point of attack.
Not every injury question was answered heading into the weekend. There has been no definitive update on cornerback Zabien Brown, a preseason All-America selection, or on running back EJ Crowell, who has supplied an explosive element to the ground game while averaging 6.8 yards per carry. Both players were listed as questionable on Thursday's report.
Saturday's contest carries major College Football Playoff implications for both programs. Each SEC team already has two losses this season, and a third defeat could potentially knock the loser out of the playoff hunt entirely.
