Bama Nose Guard Goes Down

The University of Alabama Head Football Coach Nick Saban announced today that redshirt freshman nose guard Brian Motley (Autaugaville, Ala.) suffered a fractured ankle during Tuesday’s practice.
“Motley is out for what the doctors say is six weeks,” Saban said following Wednesday’s practice. “I don’t know if that’s conservative, or what. He had surgery today to put a screw in. It is a fracture, it’s not displaced.”
Motley’s injury opens the door for sophomore Lorenzo Washington (Logansville, Ga.), who will make his first career start for the Crimson Tide against Western Carolina.
“Lorenzo Washington will start for him and this does create an opportunity for a younger player,” Saban added.
Washington played in eight games and logged 32 snaps for the Crimson Tide last season as a backup defensive lineman.
The Crimson Tide practiced for two hours in shells Wednesday afternoon as the team worked on red zone and third-down situations. Alabama opens the 2007 season on Saturday, Sept. 1 against Western Carolina at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The game will be televised on a pay-per-view basis with kickoff set for 6:07 p.m. (CDT).
Alabama will hold its final practice of the week on Thursday at 3:50 p.m. and will hold a brief walk-thru on Friday. All practices are closed to the public.