TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama running back AK Dear is expected to miss close to six weeks because of an ankle injury sustained in a preseason scrimmage, according to reports.
Crimson Tide third-year head coach Kalen DeBoer said Thursday that Dear was injured in the first of two intrasquad scrimmages for the team in preseason camp and would be evaluated. Tests revealed the severity of the injury, 247Sports and On3 reported Friday.
“It was unfortunate because he was having a real nice scrimmage there with the touches he got,” DeBoer said.
Dear, a redshirt freshman from Mississippi, had been in the mix for the starting job to replace Jam Miller. The Tide will now turn to highly touted freshman Trae’shawn Brown, EJ Crowell and Daniel Hill, who led the team with six rushing touchdowns in 2025.
Dear rushed for 140 yards and scored three time while appearing in five games.