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Tim Keenan injury update: Kalen DeBoer addresses status of Alabama DT after surgery

Alabama is preparing for their Week 1 showdown against Florida State on Saturday. Before all the action gets underway, Kalen DeBoer provided an update on defensive lineman Tim Keenan.

Earlier this week, On3’s Brett McMurphy reported Keenan will miss “multiple games” due to an ankle injury. Surgery will be required after the injury took place on Tuesday. However, McMurphy added Keenan should be back at some point during the 2025 season.

DeBoer echoed that sentiment, and provided a message of hope regarding the defensive lineman on Saturday: “TK is making sure he’s getting ready as fast as he can back home,” the Alabama coach stated, per Mike Rodak of AL.com via the Crimson Tide Sports Network. “Sending our best to him.”

That’s great news for Alabama, as Keenan was a key player last year in Tuscaloosa, playing in all 13 games. He recorded 40 tackles, 7.5 of which were for a loss. Alabama did not have the most sack production, but Keenan did a solid job from the interior, getting 2.5 on his personal stat sheet.

For Alabama’s sake, they’re hoping to survive against Florida State and more until Keenan can return. He’ll give their defense a boost when he’s ready to go. Until then, he’ll be rooting on his teammates.

More on the Alabama Crimson Tide, other injuries

Meanwhile, Keenan is not the only Alabama starter dealing with an injury. Guard Jaeden Roberts was described as “very limited” by DeBoer earlier this week, but he’s expected to play in Saturday’s season-opener.

Roberts, the 6-foot-5 and 327-pound returning starting at right guard, has been dealing with an unspecified lingering issue during preseason camp. Him being healthy enough to play in Week 1 is welcome news for the Crimson Tide.

“He’s been practicing,” DeBoer said Wednesday, regarding Roberts. “Very limited, very limited. I mean, he’s making progress but it’s slow and steady. I know this has been going on for a couple weeks. A lot of the same, nothing more than that, really.”

All told, Roberts provides a much-needed veteran presence on the Crimson Tide offensive line alongside returning junior left tackle Kaydn Proctor and junior center Parker Brailsford. Roberts has started 21 straight games over the past two seasons in Tuscaloosa.