Alabama injury updates: Kalen DeBoer shares latest on Tim Keenan, Jaeden Roberts, others

Coming out of a disappointing — and rare — season-opening loss Saturday at unranked Florida State, second-year Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer has faced plenty of questions — both from the media and its own fanbase. But at least during Monday’s Week 2 media availability, none of those questions were about injuries after DeBoer opened his remarks by addressing the Crimson Tide’s injury situation heading into next Saturday’s home opener against Louisiana-Monroe.

DeBoer addressed the current status of a multitude of Alabama’s walking wounded, including superstar sophomore receiver Ryan Williams (concussion), as well as senior defensive tackle Tim Keenan III (ankle), senior running back Jam Miller (collarbone) and senior guard Jaeden Roberts (unspecified).

Williams will remain “day-to-day” while working his way through the team’s concussion protocol after having to be helped off the field following a hat hit in the second half Saturday, according to DeBoer. Both Keenan and Miller are expected to miss Saturday’s game and possibly Week 3 vs. Wisconsin, though there’s hope they could both return for Alabama’s SEC opener at Georgia on Sept. 27. Despite not playing Saturday, Roberts has been medically cleared and is expected to be available vs. Louisiana-Monroe.

DeBoer also updated the status of two players that suffered lower-body injuries during Saturday’s game — senior linebacker Jah-Marien Latham and junior receiver Isaiah Horton, a transfer from Miami.

“Jah-Marien Latham had a lower body injury, we’ll see how he progresses. He’ll be day-to-day throughout this week,” DeBoer said Monday afternoon. “And then, Isaiah Horton, really proud of the way he fought through a lower-body injury that he had, but just kept fighting through Saturday. Was certainly limited, still feeling that a little bit, but he just continued to continued to compete and he’s someone that it doesn’t surprise me that’s what we saw. But we expect he’ll be full-go by the end of the week, we’ll build up as he can tolerate here early on.”

Kalen DeBoer reveals timeline for Alabama WR’s concussion recovery

Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams is in concussion protocol and remains day-to-day, according to DeBoer. Williams left Alabama’s 31-17 loss to Florida State in the fourth quarter on Saturday after absorbing a hit to the head.

Specifically, Williams took the hit with 6:07 remaining in the fourth quarter. Alabama was second-and-10, and quarterback Ty Simpson attempted to connect with Williams on a crossing route across the middle of the field.

Florida State defensive back Earl Little Jr. delivered a massive hit on Williams causing him to drop the ball. Williams remained down after the play and was attended to by the training staff.

He eventually walked off the field on his own power and went to the locker room. He didn’t return to the game. After the play was initially ruled targeting, the call was overturned. Before exiting the loss, Williams recorded five catches for 30 yards.

— On3’s Grant Grubbs contributed to this report.