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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. _ The University of Alabama football team doesn’t expect to need anyone to fill in for an injured player when it hosts Southern Miss on Saturday (6 p.m. ET, ESPN2).
The only lingering setback from last week’s game against Florida Atlantic was to senior wide receiver Christion Jones, who sustained an ankle bruise due to a helmet hit.
“We have no real new injuries to report,” Coach Nick Saban said on Monday. “Christion Jones may be a little limited today but we expect him to be ok by tomorrow and just continue to progress from there.”
Senior wide receiver DeAndrew White is expected to be out at least another week with a shoulder injury, and senior safety Jarrick Williams should be sidelined another three after having surgery to insert a screw for a foot fracture.
Without White, sophomore Chris Black made his first start and had three receptions for 45 yards, and redshirt freshman ArDarius Stewart took advantage of getting more playing time with three catches for 63 yards.
Cyrus Jones filled in on punt returns and nearly scored on his 70-yard effort just before the game was suspended and called midway through the fourth quarter. When trying to maneuver himself into place to make the final block, Derrick Henry tripped and fell.
“Actually, I didn’t even see him coming up and I was looking forward,” Cyrus Jones said. “As soon as I wanted to cut to the outside, there he was, so it was just a split-second play.”
“I don’t know what Christion’s situation is, but if I’m asked I’ll try to do my best,” he later added. “I love punt return and kick return. I was a guy who loved to do that in high school.”
Christopher Walsh has covered Alabama football since 2004 and is the author of 19 books. In his free time, he writes about college football.
