Kendrick Law, Devonta Smith injury update: Kalen DeBoer addresses status of Alabama playmakers

Alabama wideout Kendrick Law is banged up following a big-time win over Georgia, and his status with his lower-body injury isn’t yet clear, head coach Kalen DeBoer said on Wednesday.

Law left the Crimson Tide’s win and after the game DeBoer said he wasn’t sure the extent of the injury, just that it was a lower-body ailment. On the SEC coaches teleconference on Wednesday, DeBoer had a bit more to share but still no definitive update on the wideout.

“He’s still day-to-day right now. Trying to work through it. He’s trying to do everything he can to get out there,” DeBoer said.

And, ultimately, the Crimson Tide head coach isn’t sure if Law would play or not come Saturday.

“But from an injury standpoint, we’re still kind of seeing,” DeBoer said. “I wouldn’t rule him out, and wouldn’t say he’s a for sure go right now.”

When he is on the field, Law has been a key cog to the Alabama passing attack and offense at large, DeBoer said, even if the stats — two catches for 41 yards and a touchdown — aren’t gaudy.

“He was a really critical, I thought, piece who maybe didn’t show up in the stat column, but really critical piece to some success we’ve had against Wisconsin and last week against Georgia,” DeBoer said. “And he’s getting better and better every week.” 

And after the win on Saturday, DeBoer shared how he was crestfallen for Law.

“He’s got a lower-body injury. I don’t know what he’ll be,” DeBoer said. “But it’s unfortunate because I thought he really had a great week or two of practice and kept building too, a lot. I know he was really juiced up before the game. Thought he was doing some good job as far as just helping our offense,” DeBoer said. “It might not be things that show up on the stat sheet, but unfortunately he was not able to be there with us throughout the whole game.”

DeBoer also shared that defensive back Devonta Smith, who left the game late, was just dealing with repeated and excessive cramping so they decided to take him out of the game to get more extensive treatment. He’s been practicing fully and is expected to play as normal, DeBoer said.