Alabama football gets a boost as running back AK Dear and wide receiver Noah Rogers are both expected back for the South Carolina game. Get the latest injury update from coach Kalen DeBoer.
Alabama's offense is about to get reinforcements. Running back AK Dear and wide receiver Noah Rogers are both trending toward a return when the No. 4 Crimson Tide travel to Columbia to face South Carolina.
The Injury Timeline
Dear, a sophomore who broke off the longest run by an Alabama tailback last season, has been sidelined by a lower-leg injury suffered during fall camp.
Reports pegged his recovery at roughly six weeks — a timeline that lines up almost perfectly with Alabama's trip to South Carolina.
Rogers, a fourth-year transfer from N.C. State who caught 68 passes for 919 yards over his final two seasons there, went down with an injury in Alabama's spring game back in April.
Coach Kalen DeBoer had cautioned at the time that Rogers wouldn't be ready for the season opener but was expected to work his way back "during the season" — and that timeline now appears to be arriving.
What Kalen DeBoer Said
DeBoer confirmed the good news heading into the South Carolina matchup, saying:
"We're excited to have them back... I feel like they're getting more and more confident with their injuries and return over the last couple of weeks."
The comment reflects a gradual, deliberate approach to reintegrating both players rather than rushing them back at full speed.
Why This Matters for Alabama
Both returns come at a pivotal point in the schedule. Alabama has leaned on its running back committee — Kevin Riley, Daniel Hill and EJ Crowell — and its receiver depth of Rico Scott, Derek Meadows and Cederian Morgan while Dear and Rogers were out. Adding two proven playmakers back into the mix gives DeBoer more explosive options on the road against a South Carolina defense that's been physical and opportunistic this season.
With Alabama sitting at No. 4 in the country and building momentum, the timing of these returns couldn't be better — just as the Crimson Tide look to keep their unbeaten run alive in Columbia.