Jaeden Roberts injury update: Kalen DeBoer reveals severity for Alabama OL after second scrimmage

Kalen DeBoer saw his team scrimmage for the second time on Saturday. As usual, injuries did play a role in determining who was out there on the field. Two players wound up missing out for Alabama: Jaeden Roberts and James Smith.

A positive update was provided on Smith, who appears close to returning. However, for Roberts, he suffered a concussion. DeBoer confirmed the offensive lineman is going through protocol.

“Two guys that didn’t scrimmage today, Jaeden and James, same as last week,” DeBoer said during his Saturday press conference. “James has been working through and building up. Feel good about the progress he’s had in the week of practice, and with it being live, needed to hold back there. But he’s getting closer by the day.

“Jaeden has a concussion. I’ll just tell you what it is. And he’s going through the protocol of that. And so, hasn’t done anything from a team standpoint, starting to work back into that protocol, which included being out there today but not to participate in the scrimmage.”

Roberts is a big returning piece to the Alabama offensive line, slated to stay at the right guard position. Alabama will be losing a key interior piece on the other side, as Tyler Booker — who played left guard — is now in the NFL playing for the Dallas Cowboys.

Two weeks separate us from now and the season opener against Florida State on Aug. 30. Concussions can be tricky at times, depending on how Roberts is looking through protocol. Making sure he is back at full health will be critical for the Crimson Tide.

As for Smith, he is expected to make just as big an impact on the defensive line. Based on DeBoer’s comments, he does not think the injury will be a long-term one. Smith, who was a former top recruit acquired under Nick Saban‘s coaching staff, could finally live up to his high school ranking this season.

Smith played in 13 games last season, recording 20 tackles and four tackles for a loss. The lone sack of his career thus far came in the bowl game against Michigan. Everyone in Tuscaloosa will be praying those numbers will inflate quite a bit this season.

Thankfully, there is some quality depth along the defensive line. Smith could wind up being one of the unit’s best players, though, needing to regain his full health before the year.