Oklahoma injury update: Who the Sooners will be without vs. Alabama

There might not be as much quantity in the past, but there's a lot of quality on the Oklahoma Sooners' injured list heading into their biggest game of the year against Alabama.

With their College Football Playoff chances on the line, the No. 11 Sooners will have to take on No. 4 Alabama on the road Saturday possibly without three starting defenders and a handful of players from the other side of the ball.

R Mason Thomas, Jayden Jackson injury update

The biggest likely absence for the Sooners will be defensive end R Mason Thomas, who leads the team with 6.5 sacks this season. Thomas was listed as questionable all week, then was downgraded to doubtful on Friday evening. ESPN's Pete Thamel also reported Saturday morning that Thomas is not expected to play, but a final decision will not come until game time.

Thomas will not be the only assett the Sooners could be missing along the defensive line as they try to pressure Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, who has emerged as a Heisman Trophy frontrunner. Starting defensive tackle Jayden Jackson has been listed as questionable throughout the week after being a surprise addition to the SEC Availability Report on Wednesday.

Then in the secondary, cornerback Gentry Williams, who has made five starts in six games this season, has been listed as doubtful, which gives him just a 25% chance of playing against Alabama.

On the plus side for the Sooners, starting MIKE linebacker Kobie McKinzie, who missed OU's last game, was removed from the availability report on Friday so is expected to return.

Offensively, the Sooners will be without the usual offensive linemen in Troy Everett, Jacob Sexton and Jake Taylor. Right tackle Derek Simmons is expected to return, though.

Backup running backs Jovantae Barnes and Taylor Tatum are also still out.

The final SEC Availability Report will be released 90 minutes before the 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff, and this injury report will be updated as more information is revealed, including throughout pregame warmups.