David Leong-Imagn Images
Sep 26, 2026; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide tight end Josh Ford (40) makes a one-handed touchdown catch during the second quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Generally speaking, functioning arms are a pretty key component of being a good football player. However, it seems that nobody informed Alabama Crimson Tide tight end Josh Ford of that fact.
Ford, a junior who began his career with Oklahoma State and is in his first season in Stillwater, broke his left arm in a 56-23 victory against the Mississippi State Bulldogs a week ago.
The injury occurred when Ford’s arm was smashed between Crimson Tide left guard William Sanders and a Bulldog defender. He ultimately wrapped the arm up and went on to play a total of 23 snaps in the victory, which was his lowest total this year.
Unfortunately, the team discovered afterward that Ford’s arm was actually broken. He had surgery the following day. Now, in theory, that would mean an extended time out of action, right?
After all, he had surgery to repair a broken arm.
However, Alabama has its biggest game of the regular season this week against rival Georgia. So, of course, Ford is trying to play … and it sounds like he might get his wish.
Alabama TE Josh Ford Is Likely To Play Against Georgia
“He’s determined to get on the football field. Actually, progressing along fairly well right now,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said Wednesday. “We’ll kind of see how the week continues for him. I know where his mindset is at. We just got to make sure he meets the levels we need him to meet as far as being physically ready.
“He’s doing a great job. It’s going well. We’re optimistic.”
Excuse me? Did everybody miss the part where he had surgery to repair a broken arm less than a week ago? Even if the surgery was minimally invasive, it seems insane that Ford could potentially play against the Bulldogs.
As it turns out, there were signs all along that Ford is tougher than the rest of us.
If you don’t understand how he’s doing this, maybe you will after meeting Josh Ford’s left pinky finger, which has looked this way since getting smashed in a facemask in high school. https://t.co/ZxHEVUxkMm
— Andy Staples (@AndyStaples) October 8, 2026
You have to imagine the surgeon who performed the operation that his work might well go to waste. But hey, he gets paid either way, right?
DeBoer added that Ford’s toughness has rubbed off on the rest of his team.
“He brought that kind of physicality and that mindset, just kind of showed that group and our offense kind of what finishing looked like. And it’s become contagious,” he told members of the media. “Other guys have done the same thing, but his mindset is exactly what you want.”
For the first time under Kalen DeBoer, Alabama is starting to look like Alabama. And players like Josh Ford, and his insane toughness, are a big reason why.