Kalen DeBoer talks Alabama injuries, 2nd scrimmage, special teams in press conference

Alabama football wrapped up its second scrimmage of training camp Saturday.

The Crimson Tide held the practice at Bryant-Denny Stadium two weeks away from the season opener against Florida State on Aug. 30 in Tallahassee.

Coach Kalen DeBoer is heading into his second season coaching the Crimson Tide, looking to improve on a 9-4 record from a season ago. Alabama has its staring quarterback in place now with Ty Simpson named the starter, but the team is still putting the finishing touches on the depth chart and its team ahead of the 2025 season.

DeBoer will hold a press conference after the second scrimmage at approximately 3:30 p.m. CT. Follow along for live updates.

Kalen DeBoer press conference live updates: 2nd scrimmage

–Good scrimmage, Kalen DeBoer said.

— Offense did some nice things early. Has to do a better job of sustaining it. Defense did a good job of responding.

— DeBoer on special teams: “I think punting, Blake has done a really nice job.”

— More DeBoer on punting: “I think Alex continues to get better and push.”

— DeBoer said Conor Talty missed a few kicks today.

— DeBoer said Jaeden Roberts and James Smith didn’t scrimmage today. Smith is making progress.

— Jaeden Roberts has a concussion. He is going through the protocol.

— Kalen DeBoer on naming Ty Simpson the starter this past week: “It just made sense after the scrimmage when you evaluated the whole product he put on the football field.”

— Ty Simpson came out and executed the offense. “Just continues to be steady.” A higher completion percentage than last scrimmage but not as many explosives, but DeBoer credits the defense for that.

— DeBoer on the secondary: “I thought the defense today in the secondary did a really good job of making sure they were getting guys on the ground. We still didn’t get the picks we’re trying to get and force. I know we’re getting close.” Said the guys you would expect are the guys who are improving.

— DeBoer on ball security today: Said there was one ball that was “competitive” that was ruled a turnover but might not have been upon review.

— DeBoer said he “doesn’t know anything about it” and he doesn’t know what penalties Michigan got for the sign-stealing scandal Friday. A reporter then told him the penalties Michigan received. “It is what it is. I don’t have too much of a response.”

— DeBoer mentioned Rico Scott as an option for kickoffs.

— DeBoer said Jaylen Mbakwe and Cole Adams can return punts and kicks.

— “Injury wise, there’s a lot of guys that are beat up a little bit but it was something that was going to happen if you were going to be physical at all during camp.”

— “100%” DeBoer said about moving the scrimmage back to give Alabama players more heat go