After making an attempt to practice today -- and showing that they are not yet 100 percent -- it’s looking more and more likely that wide receiver Julio Jones and running back Roy Upchurch will not be available to Alabama this weekend, head coach Nick Saban said on his radio show this evening.
Jones has a severely bruised kneecap, while Upchurch is dealing with the dreaded high ankle sprain.
“They haven’t been able to practice enough probably to prepare,” Saban said by way of the Mobile Press-Register. “I don’t think either guy is out of realm of being able to play and will be back very soon after this game if they can’t play in this game.”
Both players were restricted from contact throughout the week of practice.
Of course, given the fact that they play North Texas this weekend, and open up SEC play the following week against Arkansas, it would seem to be the wise move on the part of Coach Woodcock to sit the two players and allow them to heal further ahead of the conference opener.
