TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Shyheim Carter has been playing with his right hand wrapped up like a club for the last four weeks. The junior said he injured it during the Ole Miss game back on Sept. 15 and a big scar stretched across the top of his right hand in Monday interviews.

“My hand, it’s doing all right,” said Carter as he flexed his fingers. “It’s good. I can’t really say anything, that’s about it. But it’s good. I go out about it in practice with it wrapped. In the game, I have it wrapped, but I just have my fingers out in the game.”

To be more specific, Carter said he sustained the unannounced injury after hitting a helmet and admitted that press coverage can be difficult at times with one hand wrapped up like a club.

“I hate the club,” Carter said.

But it hasn’t affected Carter through six games. The Kentwood, La., native leads the top-ranked Crimson Tide with two interception returns for touchdowns and is 10th on the team in tackles with 18. Since starting cornerback Trevon Diggs (foot) went down with an injury, Carter has played Star in both Alabama’s nickel and dime formations after playing safety in dime before.

And according to 12th-year head coach Nick Saban, the junior is playing worry-free football.

“Well, he only has one role now, so he’s playing the same thing all the time,” Saban joked Monday. “So, I think he’s probably more comfortable with one role than two. So, if you had to put a percentage on it, I’d say he’s 100 percent more comfortable.”

Alabama defensive back Shyheim Carter

Carter added: “I’m comfortable doing whatever. It doesn’t affect me.”

Carter and the rest of the Tide secondary are coming off a game where they held Missouri quarterback Drew Lock to 142 yards and one touchdown on 13-of-26 passing. Cornerback Saivion Smith picked off Lock’s first and last passing attempts of the game Saturday evening.

Although the Tigers were without top wideout Emanuel Hall, the secondary stepped up in a big way with Diggs, who had started the previous six games at cornerback, sidelined by an injury.

“Drew Lock and Missouri was a great offense. We were looking forward to that challenge all week,” Carter said of Alabama’s defensive backfield. “For me, the secondary played we played good. We had a couple of bad plays. We’re going to have to improve on those.”

Saban concurred.

“I thought the guys did a good job,” the coach said. “They played together, communicated better. Obviously, there are some things we need to continue to work on, but I think the big thing is we have to get more guys ready to play winning football. So, that’s a real key to the drill based on the depth that we have right now that more guys are willing to step up and prepare and be ready to play so that we can continue to play at a competitive level on the back end.”

The Crimson Tide will next travel to Knoxville, Tenn., to face the Tennessee Vols on Oct. 20.

Contact Charlie Potter by 247Sports' personal messaging or on Twitter (@Charlie_Potter).

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