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

There might not be as much quantity as 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 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 before ultimately being out on the final availability report.

Thomas will not be the only asset 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 was listed as questionable throughout the week after being a surprise addition to the SEC Availability Report on Wednesday. Jackson will be a game-time decision based on the final availability report 90 minutes before kickoff.

Then, in the secondary, cornerback Gentry Williams, who has made five starts in six games this season, is also out against Alabama. Defensive back Kendel Dolby was also once again a last-minute addition to the availability report and will be out for the fourth game in a row.

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.