Jaeden Roberts injury update: Kalen DeBoer reveals latest status ahead of Mercer game

After Jaeden Roberts left last week’s game against LSU with an injury, ABC’s Holly Rowe reported he likely could’ve gone back in the game. Kalen DeBoer confirmed that Wednesday night, saying Roberts sat out as a precaution.

Roberts left the field slowly in the second quarter after suffering his injury and didn’t return to the game. DeBoer said he continues to deal with various bumps and bruises during the week, but sounded optimistic about his chances of playing Saturday against Mercer.

“With J-Rob, he could’ve come back. Just didn’t want to push it,” DeBoer said on Hey Coach and The Kalen DeBoer Show Wednesday night. “He’s a guy that’s going through the week, just like a lot of football dings that you have. He’s working through the week and doing everything he can to get on the football field Saturday. I think it’s promising he’ll be available, ready to go, in some capacity.

“Every day, it’s amazing what 24 hours can do. We still have not 72, but we still have over 48. He’ll continue to get better there.”

Roberts is a key piece of the Alabama offensive line as the starting right guard and was named to the Lombardi Award watch list. He brings plenty of experience, as well, in his fourth year with the program as the offensive line protects Jalen Milroe.

Kalen DeBoer, Alabama enter final stretch

Alabama’s win over LSU had plenty of College Football Playoff implications considering where the two teams ranked – the Crimson Tide at No. 11 and the Tigers at No. 15. After DeBoer’s group got the win, Alabama jumped up to No. 10 to stay squarely in the mix for the 12-team field while LSU dropped down to No. 22 in the second rankings reveal.

Saturday’s game against Mercer is the first of three remaining on the schedule for the Crimson Tide. Oklahoma awaits in Week 13 and the season finale against Auburn will be at Bryant-Denny Stadium after last year’s “Prayer at Jordan-Hare” sealed an Alabama victory.

It feels like the Crimson Tide are finding a groove. To DeBoer, it’s about taking advantage of the momentum swing to finish strong.

“Our experiences that we have individually, we always remember them and the learning moments that you go through,” DeBoer said. “For our team, they weren’t through that. But for me, you do take in those times, whether it’s that season or 10 years ago — there’s just things you go through that were part of the process then that you try to remember, try to figure out what worked and what didn’t to keep the team moving in the right direction. 

“Honestly, it’s really simple. You’ve got momentum to build off of, and you make sure you take advantage of it, and then you also continue to keep the pedal down, keep focused on what you believe in, and we’ve been doing that. We were doing that then, that year, and we’re doing that now.”