Big news out of Tuscaloosa — Alabama’s offense just took a major hit ahead of the Iron Bowl. The Crimson Tide confirmed Wednesday evening through their initial SEC player availability report that starting tight end Josh Cuevas will miss Saturday’s rivalry face-off with Auburn. And that’s not the only notable absence.
The updated list of player statuses paints a concerning picture for Alabama’s depth going into one of the season’s most emotional matchups:
- OLB Jah-Marien Latham: out
- DT Jeremiah Beaman: out
- DB Dre Kirkpatrick Jr.: out (suspended)
- TE Danny Lewis Jr.: out
- ILB Abduall Sanders Jr.: out
- TE Josh Cuevas: out
- RB Kevin Riley: out
- S Kam Howard: out
- C Parker Brailsford: probable
- WR Germie Bernard: probable
- LB QB Reese: probable
Cuevas’s absence is especially significant. As Alabama’s starting tight end, he’s been one of the team’s most reliable offensive weapons. Cuevas ranks fourth on the roster with 341 receiving yards, third with 30 receptions, and is tied for third in receiving touchdowns with four. Even more impressive — across all FBS tight ends — he sits 37th nationally for having 73.3% of his catches convert into first downs or touchdowns. That kind of consistency is hard to replace.
But here’s where things get tricky: with both Cuevas and veteran Danny Lewis sidelined, Alabama’s tight end room suddenly looks very young. That means freshman Kaleb Edwards could see major action in one of college football’s toughest environments. Pressure doesn’t get much higher than the Iron Bowl.
Coach Kalen DeBoer addressed the team’s health situation during his weekly “Hey Coach” radio show on Wednesday. When asked specifically about center Parker Brailsford — also listed as probable — DeBoer struck an optimistic tone:
“Every day is important for a number of these guys,” DeBoer explained. “They’re getting better with each practice. We still have a few days, and our training staff has been amazing. The guys are making the progress we need. Obviously, some of them have limited reps, but that’s just how it goes this time of year across college football.”
Alabama isn’t done with the updates just yet. The school plans to release additional availability reports on Thursday and Friday evenings before posting the final version on Saturday at 5 p.m. CT — just hours before kickoff.
And this is the part most fans will debate: Can Alabama maintain its offensive rhythm without its trusted tight ends? Or could this open the door for an underdog performance from a young player eager to prove himself? What’s your take on how these lineup changes will shape the Iron Bowl — will experience or opportunity win the day?
