Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is out for the remainder of the season following an injury to his lower right leg on the opening kickoff against Tennessee on Saturday afternoon.
Head coach Nick Saban confirmed at halftime, during a television interview with CBS, that Waddle will not play again this season.
“And it’s a shame because the guy is a great player,” Saban said. “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 have to let him use his judgment.”
Waddle, a junior who is considered to be a likely first-round pick in next year’s NFL draft, favored his right ankle after a Tennessee defender rolled up on him from behind during the kick return. After he was carted off the field, Waddle reportedly received an X-ray before being loaded into an ambulance and taken to a local hospital.
In his first four games of the season, Waddle had 25 catches for 557 yards and four touchdowns.
Slade Bolden stepped in at wide receiver with Waddle out for the game.
