Nick Saban offers injury updates on Jihaad Campbell, Justice Haynes
Alabama head coach Nick Saban provided a couple of injury updates on his first radio show of the season Thursday night, two days before the 2023 opener against Middle Tennessee.
Saban revealed that linebacker Jihaad Campbell might not play this weekend.
“Jihaad Campbell has shown promise,” Saban said at Baumhower’s Victory Grille. “He had to get his knee scoped about a week or 10 days ago, so he’ll probably be doubtful for this game. Possible for this game but probably be able to play in the next game.”
Campbell saw the field in nine games as a reserve linebacker and contributor on special teams last year. He appeared in each of the final five games and even saw some first-team reps ahead of the 2022 squad’s bowl game, potentially previewing his role for Year 2 at UA. He spent time with the ones in the spring, and that carried over to the preseason before his setback.
Campbell was one of three inside linebackers that Saban mentioned on Thursday night when he was asked about the position group. He pointed out that the entire was new after Henry To’oTo’o and Jaylen Moody moved on after the 2022 season, but in addition to Campbell, Saban touched on two players who will most likely start at inside ‘backer in Saturday’s season opener.
“Trez Marshall has been a good addition for us,” Saban said. “He’s got a lot of maturity. He’s got some experience. But getting Deontae Lawson back, who was hurt quite a bit, played some last year, is a really good player, smart player, a good signal-caller, good leader on the field.”
Saban also shared the latest on Alabama freshman running back Justice Haynes, who missed the team’s second and final scrimmage of the preseason due to a quad contusion. Haynes is a former 5-star recruit who was among the Crimson Tide’s spring standouts and is expected to make an impact in his first year at UA, especially now that he’s returned to practice.
“He’s doing good,” Saban said. “He missed probably 3-4 days, and he missed, I think, one scrimmage, but he’s been practicing. He’s good. He’s a fine young man and a really good player and one of the freshmen that’ll make a significant contribution, I think, to the team. Maybe that role will continue to increase as the season goes on. But he’s doing really well.”
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