Practice report: Alabama gets another injured player back

Senior offensive lineman Matt Womack back going through drills

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama football team got an injured player back on the field as senior offensive lineman Matt Womack returned to participate in drills Tuesday.

Womack was again at right guard, working ahead of graduate transfer Landon Dickerson. Freshman Evan Neal continued to work with the first-team unit at left guard. Emil Ekiyor Jr. was at center.

Alabama worked in full pads inside the Hank Crisp Center. According to the National Weather Service, when the Crimson Tide began practice the temperature outside was 98 degrees with a heat index of 112.

During the observation periods reporters got a look at a passing drill in the red zone.

"It helps when you have a receiver that can jump," quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said on Monday. "Whether they're tall or not, as long as they can go up and they're aggressive getting the ball, it really helps. So it's one of those things where you could place it anywhere and they're gonna go get it."

Improving in the red zone has been one of the areas that Alabama has targeting for improvement, although that doesn't necessarily mean in the passing game.

"I think just executing in general, whether we're in the gun or under center, just executing the play it needs to be executed is the way we become successful in the red zone," Tagovailoa added.

On the defensive line, freshman nose tackle DJ Dale and redshirt freshman Stephon Wynn Jr. remain out. Junior LaBryan Ray, who is coming off ankle surgery, is going thorough his acclimation period.

Redshirt sophomore Chadarius Townsend was again with the running backs.

Reporters got another look at the dime package, which had Dylan Moses as the first-team middle linebacker and Anfernee Jennings on the outside. The second unit had redshirt sophomore Markail Benton in the interior and Chris Allen.

The defensive backs were the same as Monday, with sophomore Patrick Surtain II , senior Shyheim Carter, senior Trevon Diggs, senior Jaren Mayden and junior Xavier McKinney.

The second unit featured redshirt freshman Jalyn Armour-Davis, freshman DeMarcco Hellams, freshman Jordan Battle, redshirt sophomore Daniel Wright and freshman Marcus Banks.

Cornerback Nigel Knott remains sidelined.