It was a strange year in Tuscaloosa. Honestly, if you look back at how the 2025-26 season ended for Kalen DeBoer and his squad, you can't just talk about the X’s and O’s or that brutal 38-3 loss to Indiana in the Rose Bowl. You have to talk about the medical tent. Alabama Crimson Tide football injuries weren't just a sideline story this year; they were basically the main character of the season's final act.
Football is violent. We know this. But for a team used to steamrolling through the SEC, the sheer volume of "banged up" stars by January felt different. It wasn't just the starters going down, it was the timing. By the time the Senior Bowl invites started rolling out this month, three of the Tide's biggest producers—linebackers Deontae Lawson and Justin Jefferson, plus wideout Germie Bernard—all had to pull out because they were still nursing injuries from the season.
The Rose Bowl Reality Check
When Ty Simpson walked off the field in Pasadena, it felt like the air left the balloon. He’d been dealing with a nagging back issue since that SEC Championship loss to Georgia, but it was an arm injury during the second quarter against Indiana that finally did him in. You could see the trainer, Jeff Allen, working on him on the sideline. Simpson tried to tough it out, even coming back for the final 17 seconds of the half to take a knee, but he was done. Austin Mack had to finish the game.
It’s kinda wild when you think about it. Simpson was the engine. He’d been sacked 10 times in the final three SEC games. That’s a lot of wear and tear for any human being. Even though he told everyone he was "ready to rip it" before the Oklahoma game, his body eventually just gave out.
The Tight End Carousel
Josh Cuevas is another one. The guy was a warrior all year. He broke his foot in practice right before the Eastern Illinois game and missed the Iron Bowl and the SEC Championship. He actually managed to come back for the CFP opener against Oklahoma and looked great—three catches, 35 yards, moving the chains. But then, literally right before the Rose Bowl, he shows up as a "game-time decision" again.
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He played, but he wasn't the same. When your safety valve is hobbled, the whole offense feels it.
- Jeremiah Beaman: Out for the year since Week 2 (knee).
- Jah-Marien Latham: Season-ending neck injury in Week 5.
- Kevin Riley: Missed huge chunks of time with a broken jaw.
That’s a lot of talent sitting in ice baths instead of playing under the lights.
How Alabama Crimson Tide Football Injuries Reshaped the Defense
If there’s a silver lining to all these medical reports, it’s the "next man up" success stories. You’ve probably seen the news about Yhonzae Pierre taking over the No. 0 jersey for 2026. He only got that chance because Qua Russaw and Jah-Marien Latham went down. Pierre ended up leading the team with 14.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks.
Honestly, the defense was held together by duct tape and adrenaline by December. LT Overton missed the SEC Championship with an undisclosed medical condition, which basically killed the pass rush. Without him, the Tide only managed one sack against Georgia. He came back for the Rose Bowl, but the rhythm was already gone.
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The Backfield Shuffle
Jam Miller’s season was a literal rollercoaster of doctor visits. Think about this:
- Dislocated collarbone in the second fall scrimmage.
- Missed the first three games.
- Suffered a concussion against Missouri.
- Rolled up on against Auburn and left on crutches.
Despite all that, he was still the leading rusher with 493 yards. It makes you wonder what he could’ve done if he hadn't spent half the year in rehab. When he was out, the run game plummeted to 123rd in the country. That's not very "Bama-like," is it?
What This Means for the 2026 Season
The training room is finally starting to clear out, but the roster looks way different now. Ty Simpson has declared for the NFL Draft, as have Lawson and Jefferson. The injury bug didn't just hurt the 2025 win-loss record; it accelerated the timeline for some of these guys to move on or for others to hit the transfer portal.
Kalen DeBoer is currently hunting for EDGE help—specifically looking at Missouri transfer Damon Wilson—because he knows he can't rely on luck staying healthy next year. The depth was tested, and frankly, it didn't quite hold up under the pressure of a 15-game schedule.
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Real-World Takeaways for Fans
If you're tracking the health of this program, don't just look at the 10-3 record. Look at the "Availability Reports" that come out on Wednesday nights. In the modern CFP era, the team that wins isn't always the most talented; it's the one that manages to keep its quarterback and its left tackle off the surgery table until mid-January.
For the 2026 season, the focus is already on building "functional depth." You can't just have a great 22; you need a great 44. DeBoer has already added 10 players through the portal, including DL Devan Thompkins from USC, specifically to prevent another late-season defensive collapse due to fatigue and injury.
To keep a pulse on the roster as spring practice approaches, focus on the recovery timelines of the returning freshmen like Keelon Russell and the status of Jah-Marien Latham's medical waiver. These moving parts will determine if Alabama starts the next campaign as a title favorite or another "what if" story.