Alabama starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is hobbled.
Crimson Tide backup quarterback Jalen Hurts is hobbled and hasn't played in nearly a month, while third-stringer Mac Jones remains quite inexperienced compared to the other two.
The nation's top-ranked team very well could rout this week's opponent, The Citadel, with defensive tackle Quinnen Williams at quarterback, but the uncertainty at the position this week in Tuscaloosa certainly produces more intrigue than the typical pairing of Southeastern Conference and Southern Conference teams.
"Jalen is day-to-day and is definitely getting better," Alabama coach Nick Saban said Monday during his weekly news conference. "Tua is OK and is going to be able to practice, so that's not an issue. Mac is getting a lot of reps, so I think he's getting better. Whatever the guys can do, we're going to have them do it and get as many reps for them as we can.
"As a coach, it's a little difficult sometimes to manage guys who are injured, because regardless of what the medical circumstance is, the player has to be confident that he can go out and do what he can do to do his job well. That's something we can only evaluate as we go through the week in practice."
Tagovailoa, the leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy, sprained his right knee during the 65-31 win at Arkansas on Oct. 6 and has tweaked it in every game since. He took several hits to his knees during last Saturday's 24-0 triumph over Mississippi State, when the 6-foot-2, 218-pound sophomore completed 14 of 21 passes for 164 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
He also was sacked four times.
Hurts hasn't played since spraining his ankle during the 58-21 win at Tennessee on Oct. 20. Jones, a redshirt freshman, has played in nine of the Tide's 10 games this season, completing 5 of 13 passes for 123 yards, with 94 of them coming on a touchdown strike to Jaylen Waddle against Louisiana.
Saban was asked Monday if he might consider limiting Tagovailoa's playing time this week and predictably bristled at the question.
"Why would we do that?" he responded. "Are we saying this is not an important game or one where he doesn't need to play? I think we need to do a better job as far as the people playing around him and doing what they're supposed to do so he doesn't get hurt.
"He needs to do a better job of stepping up in the pocket and getting rid of the ball, which we had several opportunities to do. Some of these hits can be avoided by better execution, and that's what we need to improve."
Alabama had allowed just six sacks all season before Mississippi State's visit.
"I think some of the things were our fault and some of the things weren't as far as responsibilities go," junior left tackle Jonah Williams told reporters Monday. "When we have five guys blocking and they bring six, there is not a whole lot you can do there. They were the No. 1 or No. 2 scoring defense coming into the game, so we were expecting a slugfest.
"We all have a lot to improve on, including the quarterback, as good as he has been."
Jeudy recognized
Sophomore wide receiver Jerry Jeudy was named Monday as one of 11 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award and one of two from the SEC, joining A.J. Brown of Ole Miss. Jeudy has 45 catches for 925 yards and 10 touchdowns, and he leads the nation in yards after the catch with 9.2, according to Pro Football Focus.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.