Alabama vs Cincinnati Injury Report, Covid Protocol News and Updates for CFP Semifinal Cotton Bowl
- #1 Alabama clashes with #4 Cincinnati in the Cotton Bowl on Friday (December 31st, 3:30 pm ET)
- The Crimson Tide will be missing star receiver John Metchie III, as well as corner Josh Jobe and a trio of running backs
- See below for the injury reports for both teams and how potential key absences could affect the outcome
The 2021 Cotton Bowl is set to kickoff Friday (Dec. 31, 3:30 pm ET) between #1 Alabama and #4 Cincinnati. Undefeated Cincinnati has zero key injuries to report coming into the College Football Playoff semifinal, something that cannot be said for the Crimson Tide.
Alabama will be missing at least two key starters for this mega-tilt, with a handful of other regular contributors already ruled out as well.
The biggest absence will be leading receiver John Metchie III, who tore his ACL in the SEC Championship game and is done for the season.
Despite the injuries, the Crimson Tide is still a heavy 13.5-point favorite. COVID has already caused the cancellation of multiple Bowl games this season, but with just two days left before the contest, neither team is dealing with any positive cases. Enhanced safety measures have been put in place, including the removal of all media from both program’s practices.
Alabama Crimson Tide Injury Report
The loss of Metchie is a huge blow to Alabama for multiple reasons. Wide receiver is one of the few positions they lack depth at, and Metchie and fellow stud wideout Jameson Williams dominate the Tide’s target share.
Most 20+ yard catches among SEC WRs this season
🥇 Jameson Williams: 22
🥈 Treylon Burks: 20
🥉 John Metchie III: 18 pic.twitter.com/c0OxbDGIBc— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 29, 2021
Metchie had a team-high 96 catches, for 1,142 yards and 8 TD, and along with Williams combined for 68.3% of Alabama’s receptions this season. No other wide receiver on the roster has more than 32 receptions or 2 receiving TD.
Alabama Injury Report
| Player | Position | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| JoJo Earle | WR | Undisclosed | Questionable |
| Kanu Koht | LB | Foot | Questionable |
| John Metchie III | WR | Knee | Out |
| Josh Jobe | CB | Foot | Out |
| Roydell Williams | RB | Knee | Out |
| Camar Wheaton | RB | Knee | Out |
| Jase McClellan | RB | Knee | Out |
| Christopher Allen | LB | Foot | Out |
The lack of a reliable third option is potentially problematic, as the Bearcats pass defense is elite. Cincinnati ranks second in the nation versus the pass, surrendering only 168 yards per game. Granted, they’ve never faced a QB as talented as Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young, but they possess three of the highest graded defensive backs in the nation.
Corners Coby Bryant, the winner of the country’s best defensive back award, Sauce Gardner, a future first round pick, as well as safety Brian Cook have allowed just a 48% reception rate on 140 targets this season.
Cincinnati is the only Group of Five team with TWO CBs to earn an 85+ grade
🔒 Coby Bryant – 86.3
🔒 Sauce Gardner – 85.8@GoBearcatsFB pic.twitter.com/A2nYKvxp3m— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 24, 2021
Sticking on the offensive side of the ball, wide receiver JoJo Earle is also questionable, while starting running back Brian Robinson Jr. is off the injury report. Robinson was dealing with a leg injury prior to the SEC Championship game, but appears back at full strength. The senior RB will be relied on heavily in this matchup as three of his fellow running backs have already been ruled out.
Defensively, it’s a good news, bad news scenario for the Tide. Starting Corner Jalyn Armour-Davis is back at practice after missing the last two games with a hip injury. His return is critical to an Alabama pass defense that ranks 61st in the nation, as fellow starting corner Josh Jobe will reportedly miss the rest of the season due to turf toe.
Cincinnati Bearcats Injury Report
The only injury on the Bearcats roster is to kicker Cole Smith. The senior appeared in six games this season, making just three of eight field goal attempts, but hasn’t played since October 16th due to an undisclosed injury.
Cincinnati Injury Report
| Player | Position | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cole Smith | K | Undisclosed | Questionable |
Smith made 70% of his field goal attempts last season, as well as 48 of 50 extra points. He’s officially listed as questionable, but did return to the practice field this week. If he’s unable to play, Christian Lowery and Alex Bales will share the place kicking duties. The two combined to make four of nine field goal attempts this season, and 32 of 33 extra points.
#Bearcats kicker Cole Smith who hasn’t been suited up for every game and hasn’t kicked since Week 6, is live from AT&T Stadium. pic.twitter.com/ng1xfezZR8
— The News Record Sports (@Sports_TNR) December 27, 2021
Cincinnati has been one of the most impressive offenses all season, ranking seventh in points per game (39.2), and second in points per play (0.6), four spots ahead of the Crimson Tide. If there’s one area of the offense that has been a disappointment though, it’s been the kicking game.
They’ve made just 43.7% of their field attempts this season which ranks 129th in the country. With the margin for error so small versus Alabama, they’ll need a flawless effort from every position, including kicker, if they hope to upset the defending champs.
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As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
