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Alabama opened preseason camp on Thursday with coach Nick Saban telling reporters he thinks there’s “really good competition” among the quarterbacks.

The Crimson Tide lost two-year starter and former Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young to the NFL draft in April.

Redshirt sophomore Jalen Milroe returns after being Young’s primary backup last season, starting one game and appearing in eight total contests. He completed 31 of 53 pass attempts for five touchdowns and three interceptions. He also rushed for 263 yards and one score.

Redshirt freshman Ty Simpson, last season’s third-string QB, played in four games and completed four of five passes he attempted.

This summer, Alabama added former Notre Dame quarterback Tyler Buchner via the transfer portal. Buchner started three games during his two seasons with the Irish. During that time, he threw for 949 yards, had six touchdowns and eight interceptions.

In Tuscaloosa, he reunites with former Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees.

“Tommy knows him better than anybody else could,” Saban said. “I think you always know a player you coach him. You know what his strengths are, you know what he needs to improve on. And I still think that he’s probably getting comfortable with the system. There’s some new terminology in it, and I think he’s probably still getting comfortable with the players around him because the other guys have been with those guys a little more.”

Saban stopped short of declaring where Buchner stands in the competition. In fact, he used his opening statement to try to put off any questions about the quarterbacks until a decision is made on who will start.

“You’re gonna ask me about the quarterbacks every day, and every day I’m gonna tell you the same thing,” he said. “You know, everybody’s getting reps at the position. Somebody’s gotta take the bull by the horns. Somebody’s gotta separate themselves. When that happens, we’ll tell you. We’ll be glad to tell you when we’re going to take the cake out of the oven.

“We will tell you when it’s the time, all right? But until then, there’s really nothing to talk about. There’s nothing to say. So there’s not a whole lot of sense in asking about it because we want all the guys when they’re in there, you play the position like it’s yours, like it belongs to you. You’re out there competing, you’re not looking over your shoulder, you’re not worrying about what somebody else does. You’re playing like you’re the man. And that’s what we want each guy to do and see who can do that with the most consistency.”

Alabama opens the season at home against Middle Tennessee State on Sept 2.

The following week, the Crimson Tide will host Texas.

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Tigers’ Baddoo to miss start of regular season

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Tigers' Baddoo to miss start of regular season

LAKELAND, Fla. — Detroit Tigers outfielder Akil Baddoo had surgery to repair a broken bone in his right hand and will miss the start of the regular season.

Manager A.J. Hinch said Friday that Baddoo had more tests done after some continued wrist soreness since the start of spring training. Those tests revealed the hamate hook fracture in his right hand that was surgically repaired Thursday.

Baddoo, 26, who has been with the Tigers since 2021, is at spring training as a non-roster player. He was designated for assignment in December after Detroit signed veteran right-hander Alex Cobb to a $15 million, one-year contract. Baddoo cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Toledo.

Cobb is expected to miss the start of the season after an injection to treat hip inflammation that developed as the right-hander was throwing at the start of camp. He has had hip surgery twice.

Baddoo hit .137 with two homers and five RBIs in 31 games last season. The left-hander has a .226 career average with 28 homers and 103 RBI in 340 games.

After the Tigers acquired him from Minnesota in the Rule 5 draft at the winter meetings in December 2020, Baddoo hit .259 with 13 homers, 55 RBIs, 18 stolen bases and a .330 on-base percentage in 124 games as a rookie in 2021. Those are all career bests.

Baddoo went into camp in a crowded outfield. The six outfielders on Detroit’s 40-man roster include three other left-handed hitters (Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter and Parker Meadows) and switch-hitter Wenceel Pérez. The other outfielders are right-handers Matt Vierling and Justyn-Henry Malloy.

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Dodgers’ Miller has no fracture after liner scare

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Dodgers' Miller has no fracture after liner scare

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Bobby Miller still had a bit of a headache but slept fine and felt much better a day after getting hit on the head by a line drive, manager Dave Roberts said Friday.

Roberts said he had spoken with Miller, who was still in concussion protocol after getting struck by a 105.5 mph liner hit by Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch in the first game of spring training Thursday.

The manager said Miller indicated that there was no fracture or any significant bruising.

“He said in his words, ‘I have a hard head.’ He was certainly in good spirits,” Roberts said.

Miller immediately fell to the ground while holding his head, but quickly got up on his knees as medical staff rushed onto the field. The 25-year-old right-hander was able to walk off the field on his own.

“He feels very confident that he can kind of pick up his throwing program soon,” said Roberts, who was unsure of that timing. “But he’s just got to keep going through the concussion protocol just to make sure that we stay on the right track.”

Miller entered spring training in the mix for a spot in the starting rotation. He had a 2-4 record with an 8.52 ERA over 13 starts last season, after going 11-4 with a 3.76 in 22 starts as a rookie in 2023.

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Brewers OF Perkins (shin) to miss start of season

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Brewers OF Perkins (shin) to miss start of season

PHOENIX — Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Blake Perkins is expected to miss the first month of the season after fracturing his right shin during batting practice.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy revealed the severity of Perkins’ injury before their Cactus League opener Saturday against the Cincinnati Reds.

“They’re estimating another three to four weeks to heal and a ramp-up of four to six weeks,” Murphy said. “So you’re probably looking at May.”

Perkins, 28, batted .240 with a .316 on-base percentage, six homers, 43 RBIs and 23 steals in 121 games last season. He also was a National League Gold Glove finalist at center field.

“Perkins is a big part of our team,” Murphy said. “The chemistry of the team, the whole thing, Perk’s huge. He’s one of the most loved guys on the club, and he’s a great defender, coming into his own as an offensive player. Yeah, it’s going to hurt us.”

Murphy also said right-handed pitcher J.B. Bukauskas has what appears to be a serious lat injury and is debating whether to undergo surgery. Bukauskas had a 1.50 ERA in six relief appearances last year but missed much of the season with a lat issue.

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