Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor not ready to make season debut yet

After spending about two months at Iowa, Kadyn Proctor returned to Alabama after a very tumultuous offseason for him and the program. The former Iowa standout had a rocky first year with the Crimson Tide. Nick Saban’s retirement and Kalen DeBoer taking his place played a big role in Proctor hitting the transfer portal for the first time. So when will he play again?

Well, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Proctor is listed as doubtful for the Crimson Tide’s second game of the season against the South Florida Bulls. He’s dealing with a left shoulder injury that flared up last week during a warmup before the game against Western Kentucky. Alabama swept the Hilltoppers, but South Florida could be the most threatening team in the Group of Five.

While Alabama should win this game fairly easily, Alex Golesh’s team gave Nick Saban’s team everything they could in last year’s game in Tampa. This is only Kalen DeBoer’s second game at the helm of the Alabama program, and we like Golesh’s chances of moving up in the coaching profession, perhaps even beyond this year. I understand keeping Proctor out of the way, but they could use him.

DeBoer told reporters that Proctor’s injury was more of a “day-to-day” problem than a “weekly” one.

Listen. I think it’s more important that Proctor be ready to play the entire SEC season than to force him to play if he’s not 100 percent ready to face South Florida. Even though the Crimson Tide are the No. 4 team in the country, they still have to prove themselves to the College Football Playoff Selection Committee. This is a different Alabama team than in years past.

Overall, Saturday could be a great opportunity for other players on Alabama’s offensive line to step up in Proctor’s extended absence. Again, this is a brand-new coaching staff. Nick Sheridan and JaMarcus Shephard followed him from Washington to coordinate this offseason. They scored a ton of points last week with Jalen Milroe leading the way against Group of Five powerhouse Western Kentucky.

Ultimately, how Alabama responds to adversity will determine whether the Crimson Tide are good enough to make the expanded playoffs. Right now, I see them just on the outside looking in, but if the Crimson Tide goes anything like 10-2, it would be nearly impossible to leave a big mark like that in the SEC out of the playoff equation. It takes top-tier players like Proctor to shine in big moments.

They might be able to survive Wisconsin without him too, but they’ll need him against Georgia.