Alabama defensive end LaBryan Ray underwent foot surgery this week but could be playing again by November.
The 6-foot-5, 292-pound junior from Madison, Alabama, started each of the first three games for the No. 2 Crimson Tide.
"I would say LaBryan Ray is probably going to be out for at least six weeks," Alabama coach Nick Saban said Wednesday night in a news conference, "and then it will be up to how he responds to treatment and therapy and that type of thing. I'm not saying he's going to be back playing in six weeks.
"I'm just saying I know it will be six weeks before he can even start back to doing things. We'll just see how he responds."
Ray, who has nine tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble this season, is expected to be replaced in the lineup by freshman Justin Eboigbe for Saturday's game against visiting Southern Miss.
Saban was asked again Wednesday about Antonio Alfano, the nation's No. 1 strongside defensive end in the 2019 signing class who never played for the Tide.
"I just know that the guy basically quit," Saban said. "He quit going to class. He quit coming here. We tried to encourage him. We tried to help him.
"We tried to set up counseling sessions with him, and all those things are still available to him. He just didn't respond."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524. Follow him on Twitter @DavidSPaschall.