Nick Saban updates status of injured linebacker Will Anderson

Sophomore linebacker Will Anderson had to leave Alabama’s game against Mercer on Saturday with an apparent leg injury. Anderson took a helmet to his knee on Saturday and walked to the Alabama locker room under his own power. He did not return to the game.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban provided an update on Anderson’s status on Monday.

“Will Anderson has been very encouraging,” Saban said to reporters. “Probably take a day off today. He’s kind of day to day. We feel a little more encouraged than maybe after the game. We’ll just see how he progresses through the course of the week.”

Anderson joins Josh Jobe and Jalyn Armour-Davis on the injury report from Alabama’s defense. The Crimson Tide are set to take on Florida on Saturday.

Anderson is a star on Alabama’s defense

Anderson is one of the top pass rushers in college football. He finished third in the SEC with seven sacks and third with 10.5 tackles for loss last season, earning him freshman All-American honors. Anderson also blocked a kick in the College Football Playoff. He also totaled 34 tackles and forced a fumble as a freshman.

Before going down to injury, Anderson had three tackles and one tackle for loss against Mercer. The majority of Anderson’s production in his impressive freshman campaign came during the later parts of the season. A big part of that was a growth in confidence.

“I would most definitely say my confidence,” Anderson said, per Michael Casagrande of AL.com. “My confidence clicked for me. Me being confident in myself, knowing — I always knew my job, but I was always trying to play it safe a little bit. And I think when I just took the game for what it was and grew into myself and said, ‘OK, this is your job, now let’s play football, let’s be Will Anderson.’ My confidence grew, and I think that’s what helped me midway through the end of the season.”

Alabama is, to no surprise, again sitting atop the latest AP Top 25 Poll. After this weekend’s trip to take on Florida, Alabama will return home to face Southern Miss. Then, the Crimson Tide has a tough two game stretch, with games against Ole Miss and Texas A&M.