Saban says Alabama's Jaylen Waddle likely needs surgery
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Alabama coach Nick Saban said junior wide receiver Jaylen Waddle has a high ankle sprain with a fracture and will be out the rest of the season if he needs surgery.
Waddle was hurt when he took the opening kickoff out to the Alabama 15. He was tackled by Kenneth George Jr., and , between the grass and George's body. Waddle was helped off the field putting no weight on his right foot before being carted to the locker room.
Saban said after a 48-17 win over Tennessee that it's a really sad time for Waddle and his family with Waddle probably needing surgery.
“We’re going to fly him back privately with the doctors and take him back to Birmingham and see what we have to do right away,” Saban said. “If that’s the case, and we’re pretty certain that it is, he would probably be out for the year.”
Waddle has been one of the nation's top punt returners the past two years and has seldom had the ball kicked his way this year.
Alabama wide receiver John Metchie III said losing Waddle during the game was tough. No. 2 Alabama finished by beating Tennessee 48-17 without Waddle.
“I think we responded well on focusing on the most important thing, which is the next play at hand,” Metchie said.
Waddle had 733 yards on punt returns in his career, ranking sixth in Alabama history. Waddle currently leads all Crimson Tide returners averaging 19.3 yards per punt return in his career, nearly six years better than second place.
He opened this season with at least 120 yards receiving in each of the first four games and led Alabama with 557 yards on just 25 catches. Waddle was averaging 22.3 yards per catch and had four touchdowns.
___
More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
-
J.J. McCarthy is ‘Mitch Trubisky with a better coach,’ says Colin Cowherd
Former North Carolina QB Drake Maye discusses visits with Giants, Commanders
Jayden Daniels downplays issues with Commanders, says he'd be 'blessed' to go No. 2
-
2024 college football transfer portal tracker: RB Dylan Edwards leaving Colorado
USC's Caleb Williams says he's a 'big fan' of Washington WR Rome Odunze
Heisman winners by school: Where does USC rank after returning Reggie Bush's trophy?
-
2024 NFL Draft RB rankings: No clear stars, but deep top 10 prospects
2024 NFL Draft WR rankings: Marvin Harrison Jr. leads stacked top 10 prospects
2024 NFL Mock Draft: Chargers, Giants land star wideouts after QBs go 1-4
-
J.J. McCarthy is ‘Mitch Trubisky with a better coach,’ says Colin Cowherd
Former North Carolina QB Drake Maye discusses visits with Giants, Commanders
Jayden Daniels downplays issues with Commanders, says he'd be 'blessed' to go No. 2
-
2024 college football transfer portal tracker: RB Dylan Edwards leaving Colorado
USC's Caleb Williams says he's a 'big fan' of Washington WR Rome Odunze
Heisman winners by school: Where does USC rank after returning Reggie Bush's trophy?
-
2024 NFL Draft RB rankings: No clear stars, but deep top 10 prospects
2024 NFL Draft WR rankings: Marvin Harrison Jr. leads stacked top 10 prospects
2024 NFL Mock Draft: Chargers, Giants land star wideouts after QBs go 1-4