Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer will be without running back AK Dear for six weeks, according to multiple reports. Dear went down with an ankle injury during a scrimmage, and the ailment came while his stock arrow was pointing up.
"It was unfortunate because he was having a real nice scrimmage there with the touches he got," DeBoer said to the Associated Press.
Dear was lightly used last year with Alabama, rushing for 140 yards on 19 carries, but he did score three touchdowns in that limited action.
He was expected to push for the starting job this year, but his injury now opens the door for ball carriers like Trae'shawn Brown, EJ Crowell and Daniel Hill to step up during the early portion of the schedule.
Alabama RB AK Dear has a lower-body injury, source tells @aldotcom. Will miss time but won’t be out for the season. Believe @Bama_247 was first
— Nick Kelly (@_NickKelly) August 14, 2026
Dear's injury might also put more of an onus on whoever wins Alabama's quarterback battle.
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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Alabama RB AK Dear set to miss six weeks of action with injury