According to University of Alabama coach Nick Saban, junior running back T.J. Yeldon will likely play in the Sugar Bowl, but probably not in his usual capacity.

Sophomore Derrick Henry had more carries in the SEC Championship Game, and Yeldon didn’t practice last week due to hamstring/ankle issues.

“Because of his lack of being able to practice with any consistency, I don’t know if we can play him quite as much in the game,” Saban said during his radio show that was broadcasted from the team hotel New Orleans.

“But Derrick Henry has done a really good job and Tyren Jones has done a good job, so hopefully those guys will do a great job and T.J. will just sort of fill in where we can use him.”

Earlier this week Yeldon said his ankle was better, “almost 100 percent,” and he would be definitely ready to play Thursday in the national semifinal against Ohio State (8:30 p.m., ET, ESPN).

“It feels good,” he said. “I’ve been rehabbing it a bit. I just got back to practice last week and I’m still getting used to it, and seeing how it feels when I’m running full speed on it.”

Yeldon leads Alabama with 184 carries for 932 yards and needs 291 more to break Shaun Alexander’s school career record of 3,565.