Nick Saban provides injury updates to kick off Kentucky game week
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama head coach Nick Saban provided updates on two starters that suffered injuries in the Crimson Tide’s 42-28 win over LSU. He shared the latest on linebacker Deontae Lawson (ankle) and safety Jaylen Key (quad) to open Kentucky week.
“Both guys have injuries that are day-to-day in terms of what they’re going to be able to do,” Saban said. “So it’s not just a matter of whether they would be ready to play in the game, but can they practice enough to be ready to play in the game. So that’s going to be day-to-day.
“Both guys, I would have to say – if you have to say – would be questionable because it is questionable because I don’t know what they’re going to be able to do from day to day.”
Key was the first player to exit the field. In the first quarter, he stayed down and grabbed his left thigh before gingerly walking to the sideline with members of Alabama’s medical staff. After a visit to the medical tent on the home team’s sideline, Key walked to the locker room and didn’t return to the game, although he was seen on the sideline wearing street clothes.
Lawson was slow to get to his feet after Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels juked him near the Tide’s sideline. He was briefly on the bench before returning to the field before the end of the third quarter, but he limped to the locker room early in the fourth quarter. Lawson later emerged but was wearing a walking boot on his left foot while Jihaad Campbell and Trezmen Marshall finished the game. Marshall returned to action after dealing with bruised ribs.
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Also sustaining an injury Saturday was wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks. He was spotted on the Alabama sideline with his left arm in a sling. Saban shared an injury and overall update on the third-year receiver, who has caught just three passes for 30 yards in nine appearances.
“He’s been a little hurt, which has contributed to his role to some degree,” Saban said. “But he’s been great. He’s done a great job on special teams. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. When he’s gone in the game, he’s done a really good job of doing what he needs to do, but he got his shoulder banged up, which has been a little bit of an issue for him all year, in the game. We’ll see how that goes this week, as well.”
Finally, Saban gave an update on defensive back DeVonta Smith, who has been sidelined by a foot injury since the preseason. With Key now dealing with a setback, too, Alabama could use secondary reinforcements, but while he is progressing, Smith isn’t back to full health yet.
“He’s actually getting to the point where he’s able to do dry-land running,” Saban said. “I think he’s gotten up to like 80 percent or something like that. So he’s getting closer, but we’ll just have to wait to see. That’s kind of day-to-day, too.”
Alabama will play Kentucky on the road on Saturday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN.
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