Alabama continued preparation for the Orange Bowl with a standard Monday practice this afternoon. The bowl schedule sets up that next Monday would be the start of game week, but installation began today, hence the Monday setup. Players were in shorts with no shoulder pads.

This was the first time we’ve seen Alabama outside during bowl practice. Weather pushed them inside earlier this week.

Here are some observations from the open period:

  • As expected, players who were missing while at graduation on Saturday afternoon were all back today. Nothing to worry about there.
  • Tua Tagovailoa (ankle) practiced and seemed to be doing all the footwork drills we normally see with the quarterbacks. Hard to tell how heavily his ankle was wrapped from where we stood, but he didn’t have a full sleeve on his leg like he had over the weekend.
  • Our angle didn’t give us a very good view of the wide receivers, so I’m not sure if he practiced, but we did see early enrollee John Metchie around the building earlier in the day. As we reported on Saturday, Paul Tyson and Pierce Quick were already practicing.
  • OLB Terrell Lewis (ACL) was going through individual drills with a brace on his knee. Did not see Chris Allen (ACL).
  • Deonte Brown (turf toe) was practicing but not with the first or second team offensive line. Lester Cotton remained the starter at LG. The second team, left to right, was Scott Lashley, Emil Ekiyor, Chris Owens, Joshua Casher and Matt Womack.
  • Players have told us this week that freshman wide receiver Slade Bolden (who is redshirting) is playing scout team QB this week. He’s filled that role at several points this season.
  • Didn’t see him at practice but guess who stopped by the building earlier today:

And one more tweet for the road:

That’s all for today. Nick Saban will speak to the media later this afternoon. Stand by for that.

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