Notebook: Mosley status uncertain

TUSCALOOSA | C.J. Mosley has said his performance against Florida a year ago was the one that put his burgeoning confidence where it needed to be as a true freshman. Roughly a year later, the University of Alabama sophomore is looking less for confidence in his game, but more for assurances about his right elbow. Injured during the Crimson Tide's 38-14 win over Arkansas Saturday, Mosley is questionable to play at Florida this weekend.

"C.J. Mosley probably will not practice (Monday), and will be out for a couple of days for sure, and probably is questionable for this game at this point," UA coach Nick Saban said.

When Mosley exited the Arkansas game, the UA coaching staff responded with multiple replacements for him, as Mosley has a role in more than one defensive personnel package. Redshirt freshman Adrian Hubbard got the most extensive playing time of his career, while senior Jerrell Harris and true freshman Trey DePriest saw more action as well.

If Mosley can not play against the Gators, linebacker Dont'a Hightower expects that more than one player will be called on to replace him once again.

"It's probably going to have to be because it's hard to replace a guy like C.J. Mosley - a guy that can play in the box and still be able to run around with wide receivers and stuff," Hightower said. "So it's going to be a combination of people, that's for sure."

Mosley's primary position is at weakside linebacker. He has 12 tackles on the season, including two for losses and one sack. As a true freshman, Mosley made five tackles and returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown in Alabama's 31-6 rout of the Gators last season. Mosley was present during individual drills Monday, but with the team practicing in shorts, it will be later in the week before his status for the game can be refined.

Nose guard Josh Chapman left no doubt about Mosley's value to the defense.

"Last year around this time he ran one back," Chapman said. "It's important for us to get him back. I think we'll get him back."

Jordan still not right

Senior linebacker Chris Jordan missed the North Texas game in hopes of being healthy for Southeastern Conference play, but was also withheld from UA's win over the Razorbacks and has now missed a third of his final season at the Capstone to injury.

"I think he's making some progress. We're hopeful he'll be able to do some things (Monday)," Saban said. "We'll see. I don't know. We shut him down for a week, he came back and still struggled a little bit. We decided to shut him down on Wednesday of last week and not do anything until (Monday). ... I know he's frustrated because he really wants to contribute. But every time he tries, he continues to have issues."

Jordan has yet to appear in a game this season.

Vandy kickoff time set

The Alabama-Vanderbilt game will kick off at 6 p.m. on Oct.8, but it remains unclear which network will pick up the broadcast. The game will either air on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU. The Auburn at Arkansas and Georgia at Tennessee games will begin at the same time and will air on one of the same three networks. Florida's game at LSU will air on CBS at 2:30 p.m., while Kentucky-South Carolina will air on the SEC Network at 11:21 a.m.

Quotable

"I got to race against Jeff Demps when I was in high school. He was a senior and I was a junior. He was pretty fast. He beat me in the race. ... For the first 40 (yards) we were going at it. After that it wasn't a race. I'm thinking like after 80 meters he was already out there. He was probably 10 or 20 meters in front me of me. That dude is pretty fast." - UA running back Trent Richardson on UF speedster Jeff Demps.

Tidebits

Saban said running back Eddie Lacy's toe injury will likely not prevent him from playing against the Gators, but added that Lacy would be limited in Monday's practice. Lacy returned to the Arkansas game after the injury and scored a late touchdown. ... True freshmen Bradley Sylve and Jabriel Washington were among the players given the No. 1 jersey on the scout team Monday to mimic Florida's Chris Rainey, who also wears No. 1.

Reach Chase Goodbread at chase.goodbread@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0196.