Alabama's Bryce Young a game-time decision vs. Texas A&M, Nick Saban says

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama coach Nick Saban said there's no structural damage to quarterback Bryce Young's right throwing shoulder and that he threw some in practice Wednesday, but Saban said a final decision on Young's playing status for Saturday's game against Texas A&M might not come until pregame warmups.

«Bryce has been practicing, and all week, he's been saying that he could play,» Saban told ESPN on Thursday. «But that's going to be a medical decision. We've still got some time, and I want to talk more to Bryce. He's the only one who knows how he feels because it's going to be a pain tolerance thing.

»He's a tough kid and great competitor. We'll see where he is on game day."

Saban said the plan from Alabama's medical staff was for Young not to throw on Thursday and instead rest his shoulder.

«There was no reason for him to throw a lot this week, because if he does, it's not going to get better. It's just going to aggravate it,» Saban said. «Our doctors are saying that if you hold off as much as you can, then that's the best chance that he's got.»

Young, the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner, left the 49-26 victory over Arkansas last week in the second quarter after scrambling toward the sideline and landing awkwardly on his shoulder when he was tackled. Young returned to the field for the next series. But after throwing an incompletion on third down, he could be seen grimacing as he walked off the field with his right arm to his side. After a visit to the injury tent on the sideline, Young was taken to the locker room. He returned to the Alabama sideline in the third quarter wearing pads, but he didn't return to the game.

«There's nothing wrong with his rotator cuff or anything like that, nothing that's going to keep him