While there was some hope early on that LaBryan Ray could maybe return to action for Alabama at some point in November, the Crimson Tide will have to continue to play without the preseason All-SEC defensive lineman until at least the postseason.

Ray, who has been out since suffering a foot injury in mid-September, is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season and it looks questionable as to whether the junior will be able to play during the postseason, sources told AL.com.

When asked Oct. 21 whether he had any update on Ray, Nick Saban responded simply, “No.”

“I would say that LaBryan Ray is probably going to be out for at least six weeks,” Saban had said of Ray Sept. 18. “And then it will be, you know, how is he responding to treatment and therapy and all that type of thing. I’m not saying he’s going to be back playing in six weeks. I’m just saying, I know he’ll be six weeks before we can even start back to doing things. So we’ll just have to see how he responds.”

The former five-star recruit had nine tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in Alabama’s first three games prior to suffering that injury against South Carolina Sept. 14.

Matt Zenitz is an Alabama and Auburn reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mzenitz.