Jam Miller injury update: New details emerge on Alabama RB, timeline to return

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer confirmed starting running back Jam Miller is expected to miss some time after undergoing surgery Saturday evening after he “suffered an upper-body injury” in the team’s second preseason scrimmage earlier Satuday. On3 insider Brett McMurphy provided some clarity on Miller’s situation, including his specific injury and when the powerful Crimson Tide RB could return to action this upcoming season.

“Alabama starting RB Jam Miller suffered a collarbone injury Saturday & is out indefinitely, sources told @On3sports,” McMurphy posted to X/Twitter on Sunday. “Alabama is ‘hopeful’ Miller can return by (the) Georgia game on Sept. 27, source said. Bama opens at Florida State (on) Aug. 30.”

If those hopes prove correct, and Miller is able to return for the Crimson Tide’s much-anticipated SEC opener at No. 5 Georgia on Sept. 27 (7:30 pm ET, ABC), Alabama would only be without its starting running back for three games — at Florida State in the season-opener, and at home vs. Louisiana-Monroe and Wisconsin on Sept. 6 and 13, respectively.

Of course, losing a player of Miller’s caliber for any significant length of time is a difficult blow for the Crimson Tide, which enters a pivotal Year 2 under DeBoer with renewed College Football Playoff and national championship hopes after finishing 9-4 in 2024, the program’s first season without at least 10 wins since 2007 — Nick Saban‘s inaugural year in Tuscaloosa.

Miller, the 5-foot-10 and 221-pound senior bruiser, is Alabama’s top returning rusher after racking up 668 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 145 carries in 2024, cementing his status as the Tide’s starting tailback entering the 2025 season. Especially after its No. 2 running back, Justice Haynes (79 carries for 448 yards and seven touchdowns) transferred to Michigan this offseason.

Kalen DeBoer outlines Alabama’s running back room behind Jam Miller

With Miller out, Alabama will likely use a running back-by-committee approach to open the 2025 season, utilizing returning sophomore RBs Richard Young and Daniel Hill — who combined for 207 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 48 carries last season — as well as Louisiana transfer Dre Washington and true freshman AK Dear.

Prior to Fall camp, DeBoer shared some thoughts on the depth of the Alabama running back room behind Miller, who was always expected to take on the majority of the carries this season.

“Sure, you’ve got Rich Young, Daniel Hill coming back also,” DeBoer said July 30, just before the start preseason practice. “I feel like those guys were healthier than they probably ever were last season, throughout the year. Then Dre, Dre Washington. I thought he had a really nice practice today. You can see a new guy that’s come in and now you’re seeing the install a second, third time from spring, summer, to fall. Just like we were talking about with the quarterback position and how it’s clicking more. So, he’s got himself right in the mix there, for sure as we kind of narrow it down.

“There’s skill sets. There’s different things that each guy brings. Body types are a little bit different. But, in the end, it’s not like someone is so much different to where it affects who’s in there. We’re just teaching them all the offense.”

— On3’s Dan Morrison contributed to this report.