COLUMBIA, Mo. — No. 21 Missouri will likely be without its leading rusher when it travels to face No. 15 Alabama on Saturday, something that's shaping up to be a notable loss for an offense facing availability questions at key positions.
The status of starting quarterback Brady Cook remains uncertain, and he was listed as doubtful on Mizzou's Thursday evening injury report. Running back Nate Noel was also listed as doubtful.
Wide receiver Mookie Cooper was ruled out on Thursday with an undisclosed injury. His absence puts wideout Joshua Manning in line to be MU's third starter at that position.
Cook suffered a high ankle sprain against Auburn. Given his track record and importance to the Tigers having a chance to win, however, it seems like his status will come down to the wire ahead of Saturday's game — and Cook will be difficult to keep off the field.
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It's likely still too early in the week for the team to know much about how Cook's ankle will be doing on Saturday, so signs point toward him being designated no better than questionable on each injury report up to game day.
Missouri included a swath of other players on its first two injury reports of the week in what could be an actual indication of possible absences or could wind up being some gamesmanship from coach Eli Drinkwitz.
The players listed as questionable:
- STAR Daylan Carnell
- Left guard Cayden Green
- Tight end Brett Norfleet
- Safety Joseph Charleston
- Safety Tre'Vez Johnson
- STAR Sidney Williams Sr.
Wide receiver Marquis Johnson remained probable on Thursday's report.
Noel suffered a non-fracture foot injury during MU's comeback win over Auburn. The exact nature of his injury is unknown. He attempted to come back into the game but was evidently unable to do so.
Noel, who transferred to Missouri from Appalachian State, has 85 carries for 503 yards and two touchdowns this season. He missed the Tigers' game at Massachusetts with back tightness before suffering his foot injury last weekend.
If Noel does wind up out against Alabama, Marcus Carroll will be Mizzou's primary tailback. Carroll has picked up 131 yards and four touchdowns in his last two games, both of which involved fill-in duty for Noel.Â
Jamal Roberts and Kewan Lacy would also be in line for snaps should Noel miss time.
The Southeastern Conference requires teams to release injury reports on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings before conference games, with players designated as out, doubtful, questionable or probable.
Coach Eli Drinkwitz said Tuesday that Cook would be in attendance for the Tigers' practice that day but wouldn't go so far as to suggest he'd be participating. A portion of that workout is typically open to the media, but Drinkwitz closed it to keep reporters from seeing how Cook and other players were practicing.
"That’s why I’m not letting the media at practice, so that y’all can’t worry about what he’s doing or not doing in practice," he said.