TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama football team continues to be cautious with junior running back T.J. Yeldon, who has been dealing with a hamstring and ankle injuries since October.

“It’s a medical decision as to what would be the best way for him to be able come back and be most effective playing, and that decision was to really limit what he does until we come back after Christmas,” Coach Nick Saban said Saturday evening. “So he’s doing a lot of rehab, he’s doing a lot of conditioning-type stuff that is not going to put strain on the hamstring and some of the injuries that he’s sort of had.

“We’re trying to use this extra time to get him healthy rather than stay on this sort of treadmill of he really never gets better. So that’s the plan.”

Yeldon has 184 carries for 932 yards this season, with 10 rushing touchdowns. He’s also caught 15 passes for 180 yards and another touchdown.

Coaches held him out of the Western Carolina game and Yeldon responded with 127 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns against Auburn. However, against Missouri in the SEC Championship Game he had 14 carries for 47 yards and two touchdowns, while sophomore Derrick Henry took most of the late handoffs and finished with 20 carries for 141 yards and two touchdowns.

With both the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) and the potential national championship being playing on artificial turf, Alabama has practiced this week inside the Hank Crisp Facility. It’ll break for the holidays after Monday’s workout and travel to New Orleans on Dec. 26.

Saban announced that the only player who has sustained a significant injury during bowl practices had been Zach Houston, a walk-on defensive back from Daphne, Ala.

“He’s probably going to be out and (have) knee surgery,” Saban said.