Nick Saban provides latest on Bryce Young injury: It's not long-term

Alabama quarterback and 2021 Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young‘s shoulder injury is not a long-term issue, coach Nick Saban said on Monday, providing a brief update that didn’t necessarily provide a ton of clarity on Young’s status going forward.

No. 1 Alabama is set to host Texas A&M this weekend in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

“There’s no updates on Bryce,” Saban said, according to Clint Lamb, a reporter for BamaInsider on the On3 network. “He’s got a shoulder injury. It’s not a long-term thing.”

Young suffered the shoulder injury in the second quarter of Alabama’s win against Arkansas over the weekend.

He left the game after a third-down incompletion, slamming his helmet on the sideline in frustration before being checked out by team trainers in the injury tent. He did not return to the contest, replaced by backup Jalen Milroe.

Jalen Milroe looked the part following Bryce Young’s shoulder injury

At the time Young left, Alabama was up 14-0. Milroe led two touchdown drives before the half, extending the lead to 28-0 before Arkansas fought its way back into the contest.

Milroe and the rest of the Crimson Tide answered, though, following 23 straight points by the Razorbacks. Alabama capped off an impressive 49-26 win with a number of explosive runs and big plays in the second half.

Milroe, a former four-star prospect in the 2021 class, finished the game 4-of-9 passing for 65 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions, allowing Alabama to stay unbeaten while scoring a road win against a ranked opponent. Saban praised his backup quarterback, as well as some of the backs who popped explosive runs.

“Our team just won a game on the road. Wasn’t pretty all the time, but they made plays when they had to make them,” Saban told CBS sideline reporter Jenny Dell.

“I mean Jahmyr Gibbs played great, made some big runs. Quarterback went in the game and made some plays. I mean the defense made some plays. We made some horrible mistakes on special teams, but we overcame it but there’s a lot we can learn from this game today and hopefully our team will get better because of it.”

Alabama and Texas A&M are slated to kick off at 8 p.m. Saturday with a national broadcast on CBS.