Alabama Practice Report 4/1: QB Bateman Still Working with Wide Receivers

Alabama took the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields for its seventh practice of spring workouts and its fifth in full pads Wednesday.

Observations:

- Safety Geno Smith missed his third straight practice following his second DUI arrest over the weekend. Though no official word was given on how long it would be until Smith is permitted to return to practice, Alabama coach Nick Saban made it sound like it could be relatively soon.

- Quarterback Cooper Bateman was again wearing a white jersey instead of the usual black non-contact jerseys given to quarterbacks and catching passes with the wide receivers. Unlike on Monday, though, he was wearing the white jersey for both media-viewing periods.

- Defensive lineman Korren Kirven remains with the offensive line and defensive linemen Dakota Ball and Johnny Dwight are still with the tight ends. Defensive back Ronnie Clark is still with the running backs. All four players have been at these positions all spring.

- Cornerback Anthony Averett was with the cornerbacks for the fourth straight practice after a brief stint with the wide receivers for two practices last week.

- Running back Tyren Jones (dismissal) was not seen at practice. Jones, who was already serving an indefinite suspension enforced since Feb. 10, was arrested, then subsequently booted from the team Tuesday for marijuana possession.

- Offensive lineman Grant Hill (medical leave) missed his seventh consecutive practice Wednesday.

- Cornerback Cyrus Jones (hip) and outside linebacker Denzel Devall (foot) wore black non-contact jerseys and rode stationary bikes for the seventh consecutive practice. Neither will play this spring due to their injuries.

- As expected, wide receiver Cam Sims (ACL tear) was not spotted at practice for the second straight time this week. Saban said on Monday night that Sims tore the ACL on Saturday. However, before the media was allowed into practice, Sims, on crutches, was seen getting into a car in front of the Hank Crisp Indoor Practice Facility.

- Derrick Henry again led the running backs through drills. Now that it’s official, it’s worth noting that Henry is the last of the four highly-rated running backs Alabama signed in its 2013 recruiting class. Alvin Kamara transferred after that first season with the program and is now at Tennessee, while Altee Tenpenny left the program earlier this offseason and Tyren Jones was dismissed Tuesday.

- The secondary practiced its dime package in the second media-viewing period. Jabriel Washington and Ronnie Harrison, an early enrollee, were the safeties; Maurice Smith was at Star and Hootie Jones at Money; and Eddie Jackson and Tony Brown were the corners. Reuben Foster was the lone linebacker on the field.

With Cyrus Jones and Geno Smith out at least for the time being, this is all probably subject to change once the season rolls around, obviously.

Next:

Selected players will speak to reporters at 6 p.m. after today’s practice. Saban will hold a press conference after the team’s first spring scrimmage on Friday. The scrimmage is closed to the public and media.

Check out videos and photos from Wednesday's practice: