(BCSNN) — No. 21 Alabama and its defense are taking another roster hit due to injury, as the Tide will be without redshirt freshman defensive lineman Jeremiah Beaman for the remainder of the 2025 season after he suffered a knee injury during practice on Wednesday.

Head coach Kalen DeBoer confirmed the news during his weekly radio show, calling the injury “really unfortunate” and describing it as a result of a routine play gone wrong. “It’s physical football and in the trenches down there, legs get tangled up,” DeBoer said. “Nobody’s at fault — just one of those things.”

Beaman had earned his first career start in Alabama’s season-opening loss to Florida State, stepping in for veteran Tim Keenan III, who remains sidelined with a separate lower-body injury. In that game, Beaman logged 21 snaps and recorded a quarterback hurry, showing flashes of the power and quickness that made him a four-star recruit out of Birmingham’s Parker High School. His absence now leaves the Crimson Tide thin on the interior defensive line heading into Saturday’s home opener against Louisiana-Monroe.

With both Beaman and Keenan unavailable, Alabama will turn to sophomore Edric Hill and freshmen Isaia Faga and London Simmons to anchor the defensive front. Simmons and Faga each played over 20 snaps against Florida State and combined for four tackles. Hill, who saw rotational action last season, is expected to take on a starting role, while Simmons and Faga will rotate heavily in DeBoer’s 4-2-5 scheme.

The injury compounds Alabama’s early-season struggles, particularly on defense, where the Tide surrendered 31 points and 412 total yards to the Seminoles. Beaman’s loss also disrupts the development of a young defensive line unit that had shown promise in fall camp. “Jeremiah was just starting to find his rhythm,” DeBoer said. “He’s a tough kid, and we know he’ll attack rehab the same way he plays — with intensity and focus.”

Keenan, a fourth-year junior and projected starter at nose tackle, is reportedly progressing well and could return as early as Week 3 against Wisconsin. Until then, Alabama will rely on its depth and youth to fill the void. The Tide’s defensive line rotation now includes five underclassmen, a stark contrast to the veteran-heavy front seen in recent seasons.

Alabama hosts Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday night at Bryant-Denny Stadium, looking to rebound from its Week 1 loss and stabilize a defense suddenly short on experience. For Beaman, the focus shifts to recovery and preparing for a return in 2026.