Saban offers injury updates on Jase McClellan, Kool-Aid McKinstry
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama running back Jase McClellan, who missed the SEC title game with a foot injury, is improving but his availability for the Rose Bowl semifinal against top-ranked Michigan is uncertain, head coach Nick Saban said following Monday’s practice.
“He’s getting better,” Saban said of McClellan. “I think it’s probably still too early to tell. He’s getting ready to do dry-land running and some things. He’ll progress through the rest of the week, and we’ll see where he lands by the end of the week.”
In Alabama’s win over Auburn to conclude the regular season, McClellan “tweaked” a foot injury he has dealt with all season, Saban said, which led the senior to miss the SEC Championship Game against Georgia. McClellan was in uniform for pregame warmups and fielded kickoffs but watched most of the drills before sporting street clothes for the game.
Alabama senior Roydell Williams earned his first start at running back against the Bulldogs and finished the game as the Crimson Tide’s leading rusher with 64 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Jam Miller rose into the No. 2 tailback role and saw nine handoffs for 23 yards.
Another player on the injury report after the win over Georgia was starting cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, who exited the game in the third quarter due to a concussion. He was replaced at right cornerback by Louisiana transfer Trey Amos, but when the Tide hit the practice field for the first time on Saturday, McKinstry was participating after two weeks off.
“Yeah, he is,” said Saban when asked if McKinstry was back. “He’ll be fine.”
Alabama will hold its fourth practice for the Rose Bowl semifinal on Tuesday, Dec. 19.
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