Alabama QB Jacob Coker to miss 'several days' with foot injury

Alabama coach Nick Saban was frustrated with his quarterback situation following last Saturday’s scrimmage and that frustration likely was exacerbated today with the announcement that potential starting quarterback frontrunner Jacob Coker would miss time with a foot injury.

“Jake Coker has a minor foot injury that we think will keep him out of practice for several days. Our physicians anticipate a full recovery,” Saban said in a short statement.

Coker is one of five quarterbacks trying to earn the starting role for the Tide this fall. However, none of those players have separated themselves enough to be named starter. Saban did say following Saturday’s scrimmage that “one guy was better than another,” but didn’t give names and no stats were released.

"The way I see it happening is as soon as we start gaining a little bit of confidence in a guy and we kind of put him in the situation where, OK, you've got a chance to be the guy, then they have to take advantage of that,” Saban told media Saturday. “They have to take the ball and run with it. We've seen that a couple times, and it's a little bit like giddy-up, whoa. So I'm just waiting for somebody, when they sort of break out and are having a couple good days, that they say 'OK, I'm ready to do this.'

"And you've got to win the team. And I see guys starting to win the team, and then something happens, but that's gonna happen. Somebody's got to make it happen. I can't make it happen."

Coker, a Florida State transfer, lost last year’s preseason camp quarterbacking competition to Blake Sims, but was considered this year’s frontrunner after a strong spring. Redshirt freshman David Cornwell also had a nice spring, which made him the most likely challenger, but redshirt sophomore Cooper Bateman, redshirt junior Alec Morris and true freshman Blake Barnett, a former five-star recruit, all are in the mix.

Saban said Saturday three of those quarterbacks entered the scrimmage first, second and third, but, again, declined to give names. Coker’s injury certainly will open the door for one of those quarterbacks to move up and perhaps steal the starting role. Alabama’s final preseason scrimmage will be Saturday. The Crimson Tide opens the season Sept. 5 against Wisconsin at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

For more Alabama news, visit TideSports.com.

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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter! Follow @YahooDrSaturday

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