Kane Wommack addresses controversial targeting call on Justin Jefferson: 'Keep playing'

Alabama linebacker Justin Jefferson was ejected for targeting in the second half of Saturday’s win over USF. The senior will now miss the first half of this weekend’s out-of-conference showdown against Wisconsin.

Jefferson wasn’t originally flagged for targeting, but replay buzzed down, the play was reviewed and he was flagged and ejected from the game.

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Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack was asked about the play during his media availability on Monday. Wommack shared that he didn’t really see a teaching point for Jefferson or anything he could have done better.

Instead, his message to the veteran Alabama defender is simply to keep playing the way he is.

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“Obviously it’s always disappointing, right, when you have a dynamic player that is not available for one half of a game,” Kane Wommack said. “You know, we looked at the play, looked at it from about every angle that I could. I think we’ve just gotta tell the young man, you know, keep playing.

“So it is what it is. We’ll deal with it and get ourselves ready for him in the second half.”

Justin Jefferson is tied for third on the Alabama team with 12 tackles so far this season. He also has a sack. Jefferson didn’t start the first two games for Alabama, but he has been a pivotal player off the bench. Others will have to step up with him set to miss the first half on Saturday.

Cole Adams injury update: Latest on Alabama wide receiver

Elsewhere with the Alabama football program, wide receiver Cole Adams suffered an apparent arm injury early in the fourth quarter of Alabama’s 42-16 win over South Florida on Saturday. After the game, Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer provided an update on Adams’ condition.

“He just had an arm injury,” DeBoer said. “I would say we’ll have to see exactly where that’s at, just to the extent of that. I didn’t necessarily see and I didn’t even realize it was his arm until he kind of got up. I thought it was something lower leg.

“But we’ll kind of see where he’s at throughout the week. It’s unfortunate. I think he was more just frustrated that he got hurt than it was the pain that he was going through. But I’m sure it didn’t feel good.”

Before leaving the game with the injury, Adams recorded one reception for five yards. He also fielded two punts for the Crimson Tide. Adams has been Alabama’s primary punt returner in the 2024 campaign, with seven returns through only two games.