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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. _ Both of the players who wear No. 4 for the University of Alabama football team were on the sideline for most, if not all of the second half during the 52-12 victory over Southern Miss on Saturday night.
Coach Nick Saban said that sophomore cornerback Eddie Jackson had a bruised quad, while junior running back T.J. Yeldon “strained his hamstring a little bit.”
Junior linebacker Denzel Devall also went to the locker room to be checked out during in the third quarter, and has a strained shoulder.
None of the injuries are thought to be serious.
“We just chose to not play the guys anymore in this particular game,” Saban said. “It gives other people an opportunity to play. Why put the guys at risk when you’re getting ready to head into league play starting next week?”
Yeldon finished with nine carries for 56 yards and actually had the worst average of all the running backs who took a handoff at 6.2 yards per carry. While sophomore Derrick Henry is considered his primary backup, Saban disclosed that he’s been dealing with a shoulder injury since the season opener against West Virginia.
“We’ve got get him back into the groove,” the coach said. “He played a little better today than last week. He’s one of those guys who once he gets going he gets better as he goes.”
It also helps explain why sophomore Kenyan Drake got the ball so many times near the end zone and scored three touchdowns.
Jackson is coming off knee surgery in April. True freshman Tony Brown took his place, and when junior Bradley Sylve entered the game with the second-unit players Brown switched from right cornerback to left.
Although senior wide receiver DeAndrew White (shoulder) did participate in pregame warm-ups in full pads he was in street clothes on the sideline during the game. Saban indicated all along that While would not play against Southern Miss.
Christopher Walsh has covered Alabama football since 2004 and is the author of 19 books. In his free time, he writes about college football.
