Ryan Williams injury update: Kalen DeBoer reveals news on Alabama WR

Alabama Crimson Tide star wide receiver Ryan Williams ended spring practice with “a little bit of a ding,” according to head coach Kalen DeBoer. No exact injury was provided by DeBoer but there appear to be no lingering effects. He says Williams should be good to go for the summer, giving Crimson Tide fans a sense of relief.

“Unfortunately, at the end of spring ball, he suffered a little bit of a ding,” DeBoer said. “He’ll be fine. He’ll be ready to roll here this summer. But going back all the way to January, just kind of him understanding — even from last season — where he needed to get better. It’s being stronger. He’s just younger. The body maturing, and then him putting the work in — just being stronger, more durable, those types of things.”

Williams is entering his second season in Tuscaloosa after a phenomenal freshman campaign. However, this is his first time going through spring practice. Last year saw him enroll during the summer and emerge as a starter coming out of fall ball. Alabama immediately felt his impact despite being the youngest player out on the field.

All of spring was not smooth sailing, though. DeBoer revealed Williams’ “ding” on Wednesday after holding him out from a scrimmage in early April. The message was the same from DeBoer, saying the goal was to make sure Williams was protected.

“We didn’t have Ryan scrimmage today,” DeBoer said on April 4 via On3’s BOL. “Just taking care of him. We know what we have there. He might not do much the rest of the spring, and there’s a couple of nicks and things like that. But if you asked him, he’d be out there and scrimmaging. 

Last season saw Williams catch 48 passes for 865 yards and eight touchdowns. No Alabama fan will forget what he did against Georgia either, catching the game-winning touchdown on an incredible 75-yard play. It capped off a night where Williams went for 177 total yards. A breakout game for the young star, hoping for similar results in 2025.

A new quarterback will be throwing passes to him as well. Jalen Milroe is now off to the NFL after being drafted by the Seattle Seahawks. DeBoer has not yet named a starter as the competition continues into the summer. Ty Simpson appears to be the favorite, though, with Austin Mack and Keelon Russell also in the mix.