Here is the Missouri Tigers’ injury situation ahead of SEC football clash at Alabama
After last week’s war of attrition against Auburn saw several key Missouri contributors injured, the status of several MU starters remains unclear.
The status of quarterback Brady Cook, who exited Saturday’s 21-17 victory during the first drive, before returning to action nearly two hours later in the third quarter, remains up in the air, ahead of the team’s road trip to Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
“I expect Brady to be at practice,” coach Eli Drinkwitz said Tuesday. “I don’t know if I would say participating.”
Should Cook be unable to play this week, backup quarterback Drew Pyne will be in line for his first start in black and gold. He played an extended role in Cook’s absence last week.
Questions also linger over the statuses of running back Nate Noel and tight end Brett Norfleet.
Noel’s foot injury, suffered on the opening drive against Auburn, is unrelated to the back injury which kept him out of Missouri’s 45-3 rout of UMass on Oct. 12. Norfleet, who was injured on the second drive, is thought to have reinjured his left shoulder, the same shoulder that has given him trouble throughout the season.
“I don’t have much of (an injury report), just because we haven’t practiced,” Drinkwitz said.
Containing The Crimson Tide
“Now, it’s on to the next challenge, and boy, is it a big challenge,” Drinkwitz said.
No. 15 Alabama (5-2, 2-2) is historically among the strongest teams in the Southeastern Conference, especially when playing at home.
Alabama is 37-2 in Southeastern Conference play at Bryant-Denny Stadium in the last 10 years, and The Crimson Tide’s only SEC blemishes at home, in the last decade, were a 43-27 loss to Ole Miss on Sept. 19, 2015, and a 32-31 loss against LSU on Nov. 5, 2022.
On the other hand, No. 21 Mizzou has an all-time record of 7-13 on the road under Drinkwitz, and the 2023 SEC Coach of the Year alluded to a potential tactic he may use against Alabama to combat its commanding home record.
“We’re going to try (Oregon coach) Dan Lanning’s approach and play 12 (players at once),” Drinkwitz joked. “We’ll add an extra rusher, see if anyone notices.”
The Tigers take the field against the Crimson Tide at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The game will be broadcast on ABC.
Copyright 2024 Columbia Missourian
This story was originally published October 22, 2024 at 7:54 PM with the headline "Here is the Missouri Tigers’ injury situation ahead of SEC football clash at Alabama."