Alabama’s AK Dear Sidelined Six Weeks With Ankle Injury

Alabama Crimson Tide running back AK Dear is expected to be absent for approximately six weeks following an ankle injury sustained during a preseason scrimmage. The timeline was established after tests revealed the severity of the injury, which occurred during the first of two scrimmages on Thursday, according to reports from 247Sports and On3.

Head coach Kalen DeBoer confirmed the incident on Thursday, noting that Dear required evaluation immediately following the scrimmage. DeBoer described the timing as unfortunate, particularly given Dear’s performance in the session. “It was unfortunate because he was having a real nice scrimmage there with the touches he got,” DeBoer said.

The injury disrupts the Crimson Tide’s backfield planning, as Dear, a redshirt freshman from Mississippi, had been competing for the starting role to replace Jam Miller. Prior to the injury, Dear had recorded 140 rushing yards and three touchdowns across five games, positioning him as a key contributor to the team’s offensive strategy.

With Dear sidelined, the coaching staff will rely on a trio of freshmen to fill the void: Trae’shawn Brown, EJ Crowell, and Daniel Hill. The team’s offensive output will now depend heavily on this group, with Hill having led the squad with six rushing touchdowns in 2025.

The six-week absence places significant pressure on the remaining roster to maintain offensive momentum during the early stages of the season. The exact nature of the ankle injury remains unspecified beyond the projected recovery period, which is based on initial test results rather than a definitive long-term medical prognosis.