For the most part, Alabama’s avoided the major preseason injury entering the first game week of the 2022 college football season.

The exception was returning starting tight end Cameron Latu. He’s missed the entire month of August with what Nick Saban called a minor knee injury when preseason camp began. Now it’s game week and Latu is not listed on the Alabama depth chart.

The good news for him, he’s on the road to returning to the field. Saban on Monday said he’d be back on the field that afternoon for the first time.

“See how he progresses, see how he does,” Saban said. “I don’t think anybody can make a prediction about that right now. He’s been on the treadmill and all that stuff last week. He’s never had an issue, never had a problem. So the next thing he does is start dry-land working, doing individual, seeing what he can do in practice. It’s kind of day-to-day with him.”

Latu is the top returning pass catcher from last year’s team after pulling in 26 balls -- eight for touchdowns -- and 410 total yards.

The silver lining with Latu’s absence has been the opportunity it’s given Alabama’s young tight end room.

Sophomore Robbie Outz was listed as the starter on the depth chart followed by JUCO transfer Miles Kitselman. True freshmen Danny Lewis and Amari Niblack are co-third-teamers.

“They have gotten a ton of reps and made significant progress because of the ton of reps they’ve got in his absence,” Saban said. “Robbie Ouzts has done a really good job at the position, but all three young guys have made significant progress and they’ll probably have some role in this game.”

Alabama kicks off the 2022 season at 6:30 p.m. CT against Utah State in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.

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