Three former Alabama players have been sidelined for the opening of NFL training camps by being placed on the physically-unable-to-perform list.
Receiving the designation this weekend were Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch, Denver Broncos linebacker Drew Sanders and Carolina Panthers wide receiver Cam Sims.
Each of those teams is scheduled to hold its first full-team practice of training camp on Wednesday. Each of the players can start practice as soon as he receives medical clearance.
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That won’t be forthcoming for Sanders.
Sanders tore an Achilles tendon during Denver’s offseason workouts and will be out of action well into the regular season. That likely means he’ll start the 2024 campaign on reserve/PUP. But that doesn’t mean his season is over – only that he will have to miss at least the first four games.
Sanders played at Alabama in the 2020 and 2021 seasons before transferring to Arkansas for 2022 and joining the Broncos in 2023 as the 67th selection in the NFL Draft.
As a rookie, Sanders played in all 17 of Denver’s games, with four starts. He was on the field for 258 defensive snaps (23 percent of the Broncos’ total) and 297 special-teams plays. Sanders made 24 tackles, recorded one tackle for loss and recovered one fumble.
To cap his first NFL season, Branch made 20 tackles, recorded three tackles for loss and broke up one pass during the Lions’ three postseason games as Detroit reached the NFC Championship Game for the first time since the 1991 campaign.
But Branch did not get on the field during Detroit’s offseason program after having surgery for a foot injury.
Sims’ injury has not been disclosed.
After spending his first five NFL seasons with the Washington Commanders, Sims did not play in a regular-season game in 2023.
Simssigned with Las Vegas as a free agent last offseason, but the Raiders released him when they reduced the preseason roster to the regular-season limit of 53 active players on Aug. 29.
Sims joined the New York Giants’ practice squad on Sept. 4 and was released on Oct. 10. The Philadelphia Eagles signed Sims for their practice squad on Nov. 30 and released him on Dec. 4. Sims joined the Panthers’ practice squad the next day and spent the rest of the season there.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.