Alabama
NFL Thursday night: Former Alabama prep star comes through for Eagles in fourth quarter
Philadelphia safety Reed Blankenship made two possession-ending plays in the fourth quarter as the Eagles rallied for a 26-18 victory over the Washington Commanders on Thursday night.
Philadelphia trailed 10-3 after Washington opened the third quarter with a field goal. But the Eagles maintained their hold on the top spot in the NFC East by scoring on their four full second-half possessions, including three fourth-quarter touchdowns.
After Philadelphia took a 12-10 lead with 12:00 to play, Washington went for it on fourth-and-2 at the Eagles 26-yard line rather than have up-from-the-practice-squad kicker Zane Gonzalez try a 44-yard field goal to take the lead, even though he’d already connected from 45.
Blankenship and linebacker Zach Braun tackled quarterback Jayden Daniels for no gain to end the series.
The Eagles offense ripped down the field in five plays for another touchdown, and on the Commanders’ first snap after the TD, Blankenship intercepted Daniels at the Washington 46-yard line.
This time, it took only two snaps for Philadelphia to get running back Saquon Barkley into the end zone again for a 26-10 lead with 4:38 remaining.
Barkley ran for 146 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries and caught two passes for 52 yards.
In addition to his second interception of the season and seventh of his career, Blankenship made 10 tackles against Washington.
Blankenship is a former West Limestone High School standout. During the Washington-Philadelphia game, 13 more players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field:
- Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen (Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
- Eagles cornerback James Bradberry (Pleasant Grove, Samford) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
- Landon Dickerson (Alabama) started at left guard for the Eagles. Dickerson limped off the field after the third snap, but he returned for Philadelphia’s second possession.
- Eagles offensive lineman Jack Driscoll (Auburn) did not record any stats.
- Eagles defensive end Bryce Huff (St. Paul’s Episcopal) recorded one tackle for loss.
- Jalen Hurts (Alabama) started at quarterback for the Eagles. Hurts completed 18-of-28 passes for 221 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions and ran for 39 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries. Hurts scored on a 1-yard sneak with 12:00 remaining as Philadelphia took a 12-10 lead.
- Noah Igbinoghene (Hewitt-Trussville, Auburn) started at cornerback for the Commanders. Igbinoghene made six tackles.
- Commanders defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis (Alabama) made two tackles.
- Daron Payne (Shades Valley, Alabama) started at defensive tackle for the Commanders. Payne made three tackles.
- Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves (South Alabama) made two tackles on special teams.
- Eagles cornerback Eli Ricks (Alabama) was designated as a game-day inactive.
- Brian Robinson Jr. (Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, Alabama) started at running back for the Commanders. After missing two games because of a hamstring injury, Robinson ran for 63 yards and one touchdown on 16 carries and caught a 9-yard pass. Robinson scored the game’s first points on a 1-yard run with 3:26 left in the first quarter.
- Commanders offensive tackle Trent Scott (Lee-Huntsville) did not record any stats.
- DeVonta Smith (Alabama) started at wide receiver for the Eagles. Smith had four receptions for 29 yards.
- Eagles offensive lineman Tyler Steen (Alabama) did not record any stats.
- Eagles tight end C.J. Uzomah (Auburn) did not record any stats in his debut for the 2024 season. Philadelphia elevated Uzomah from its practice squad to make him eligible to play.
- Eagles defensive tackle Byron Young (Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
Washington (7-4) plays the Dallas Cowboys at noon CST Nov. 24 at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland.
Philadelphia (8-2) plays the Los Angeles Rams at 7:20 p.m. Nov. 24 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. carries the football during an NFL game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith runs after a reception during an NFL game against the Washington Commanders on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.(AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
Alabama
3 Alabama players who helped their draft stock at 2026 NFL combine
Each player had a pivotal role on the Crimson Tide in 2025.
Alabama had a multitude of former players who performed at an elite level at the NFL combine this past weekend.
Former Alabama star quarterback Ty Simpson was among those who put his talents on full display in Indianapolis, as Simpson continues to emerge as a top quarterback prospect available in April’s draft.
Numerous Crimson Tide stars on both sides of the football were able to have an excellent showing at the combine as well, with each playmaker a vital component to the Tide’s success in 2025.
Here are three Alabama players who helped their draft stock rise at the NFL combine.
Ty Simpson, Quarterback
Simpson is widely regarded as the best quarterback prospect available outside of Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. The talented redshirt junior put on an absolute show at the NFL combine, as Simpson delivered multiple perfect throws and put his talents on full display throughout Saturday’s events.
The former Alabama star is a candidate to potentially shine day one in his campaign in the NFL, as Simpson’s draft stock continues to rise prior to April.
Jam Miller, Running Back
Miller is an extremely fast and athletic running back, despite struggling in the Tide’s backfield last season. The star running back recorded an impressive 4.43u 40-yard dash time, as Miller could very easily shine in the NFL next season with consistent playing time.
Miller was nothing short of elite throughout his entire performance at the combine in Indianapolis, as the former Tide running back continues to rise in a multitude of draft rankings around the football world.
Kadyn Proctor, Offensive Tackle
Proctor played a crucial role on Alabama’s offensive line last season. The star lineman reportedly slimmed down prior to the NFL combine, as Proctor displayed elite speed and athleticism throughout Sunday’s combine in Indianapolis.
Proctor is widely expected to be a mid-to-late first round selection in April, as the talented lineman’s efforts during the combine could quickly begin to work in Proctor’s favor during next month’s draft.
The 2026 NFL draft will take place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania starting on April 23, as each Crimson Tide star will look to shine throughout their rookie campaign in the NFL.
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
Alabama
Husband, 19, fatally shot wife, 24, himself at Alabama hospital moments after welcoming their first child
A husband fatally shot his wife before turning the gun on himself at an Alabama hospital just moments after they welcomed their first child on Sunday.
Kynath Terry Jr., 19, gunned down 24-year-old Precious Johnson before fatally shooting himself inside the Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital around 9:30 p.m. Sunday night, WTVM 13 reported.
Johnson delivered a healthy baby just before she was murdered. It’s not immediately clear if the baby was present during the shooting, but police said that Terry and Johnson were the only ones injured.
Terry’s mother told the outlet that the couple were having some marital issues leading up to Johnson’s due date, but nothing that made her fear her son would become violent.
She told the outlet that Terry completed Army National Guard training before tying the knot with Johnson.
She noted that Johnson didn’t want Terry’s side of the family at the hospital for her child’s birth, but it’s unclear if anyone from the mother-to-be’s own family was there.
The hospital was plunged into a lockdown “out of an abundance of caution” while police investigated reports of a shooting. It wasn’t lifted until hours later when they determined there was “no active threat to patients, team members or the public,” the outlet reported.
The Homewood Police Department described the tragedy as “an apparent murder-suicide and is domestic in nature.”
Danne Howard, the president of the Alabama Hospital Association, told the outlet that the chilling attack “was an isolated incident” unlike anything she’d encountered during her three decades working in the state.
Howard said, in the wake of the tragedy, the Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital would undergo a security overhaul implementing “lessons learned” from a mandated after-action report.
Just three months ago, in a town six miles outside of Homewood, a beloved sports reporter was fatally shot by her husband before taking his own life. Their 3-year-old son, who was unharmed, led his grandfather to his parents’ bodies.
Alabama
Air Force base security tightens, AL reacts after attacks in Iran
Hegseth on Iran: ‘This is not Iraq. This is not endless.’
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said operations on Iran won’t be “endless” like Iraq.
The United States and Israel-led attacks on Iran are having an impact in Central Alabama.
The military actions that began Saturday targets the military forces of Iran and the nation’s ability to build nuclear weapons.
In Montgomery, Maxwell Air Force Base and Gunter Annex have stepped up security so that all entry points will have a 100 percent ID check, the bases said on social media. The Trusted Traveler Program is suspended, which allowed Department of Defense identification holders to vouch for passengers.
Visitors without base access will have to go through the visitor center to get a pass.
Central Alabama residents react to the Iran attacks
For Travis Jackson of Montgomery, the attacks bring back memories, bad memories. He served one tour in Iraq from 2007-2008 with the U.S. Army. He attained the rank of sergeant before leaving the service and has worked the last 10 years as a community activist and diversity, equality and inclusion coordinator.
“I had a flashback of being overseas again,” he said when he first heard news of the attack. “The first thing I thought of was corporate greed. Of yet again seeing what has transpired throughout the years of any war overseas.”
He feels the attacks are a mistake.
“It’s going to be detrimental to the economy, notably with the increase in oil prices,” he said.
Removing the current regime in Iran and establishing a more western friendly country could improve hopes for a more stable Middle East, said Amy Stephens of Elmore County.
“I don’t know if there will ever be peace there,” Stephens said. “But Iran has been the causing trouble over there for almost 50 years.”
Ray Roberts of Prattville served in Operation Desert Shield/Storm in 1990 and 1991 after Iraq invaded Kuwait. He served in an ordinance company with the Alabama Army National Guard. He was a sergeant when he left the service and now works as a draftsman at a Montgomery manufacturing plant.
“It wasn’t a surprise,” Roberts said of the attacks. “President Trump had said they were coming. When he says something like that, he means it. I am glad we are working with Israel so it’s not just the United States. I wonder if Europe and some of the other Gulf nations will join the attacks.”
Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at mroney@gannett.com. To support his work, please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.
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