KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle will miss the rest of the season.
Waddle suffered an ankle injury on the very first play of Saturday’s game against Tennessee at Neyland Stadium. The star wideout returned the opening kickoff and was tackled awkwardly, knocking him out of the rivalry game. Waddle was helped to a cart, quickly ruled out for the rest of the contest and loaded into an ambulance before the first quarter expired.
At halftime, head coach Nick Saban revealed to CBS Sports that Waddle is out for the year.
“It’s a shame because the guy’s a great player,” Saban told CBS sideline reporter Jamie Erdahl at halftime. “It’s exciting for college football to see a guy play like that. I hate it that he gets hurt on a play like that. You’re not supposed to bring a ball out when you’re that deep in the end zone, but he’s a great player, so you’ve gotta let him use his judgment.”
Waddle was replaced at receiver and punt returner by redshirt sophomore Slade Bolden, while redshirt freshman running back Trey Sanders stepped in for him on kickoff returns.
On the season, Waddle was responsible for 557 yards and four touchdowns on 25 catches for an average of 22.28 yards per reception. He came into Saturday’s game against the Vols with four straight 100-yard receiving games. Nationally, Waddle ranked fourth in receiving yards and eighth in yards per catch entering the fifth game of the 10-game, SEC-only season.
*** This story will be updated.
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