Jalen Hale injury update: Alabama receiver out for spring with 'significant' ailment

Reports began to emerge of Alabama wide receiver Jalen Hale suffering a leg injury during practice this week. On Thursday, head coach Kalen DeBoer confirmed them, specifying by saying Hale’s knee is the issue. DeBoer called the injury “significant.”

Hale is expected to be out for all of spring practice heading into his sophomore season. However, DeBoer said there is still some evaluation that needs to take place before giving a timeline for the rest of the calendar year.

“He did have a significant knee injury,” DeBoer said during his Thursday press conference. “He’ll be down for the spring, but there’s some evaluation that will still take place to kind of figure out what timeline will be as far as the rest of the year.”

The numbers from Hale are not eye-popping from a numbers standpoint, only having five receptions for 148 yards and a touchdown. But Hale certainly made an impact when the ball was in his hands, averaging 29.6 yards per reception.

Hale’s 2024 season does not seem to be completely lost, at least based on this update from DeBoer. Alabama is hopeful he can make a serious impact on the field after multiple key players left the program this offseason.

You will not find Alabama’s three leading receivers on the roster this spring. Jermaine Burton, who led the way with 798 yards, is preparing for the NFL Draft. And then Isaiah Bond and Amari Niblack entered the NCAA transfer portal and are both now Texas Longhorns.

Hale played high school football at Longview (TX) High School, where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 38 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Jalen Hale sends message following knee injury

Before DeBoer could confirm the exact injury for Hale, nobody knew the exact issue surrounding the wide receiver. On3’s BOL reported a leg injury for the second-year player with an ambulance having to be brought to the facility.

Hale sent a message out on Thursday morning though, thanking everyone for reaching out with concern. He himself did not provide an update, just thankful for all of the support.

“Good morning everyone just wanna say thank you for all the text and phone I have got so far I really appreciate the support and love and prayers,” Hale said via X.