Nick Saban provides injury updates for two Alabama players on Thursday
ARLINGTON, Texas — For anyone wondering about the health status of cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis and wide receiver JoJo Earle, Alabama coach Nick Saban provided injury updates for both players via a Zoom call on Thursday morning.
From what Saban said, it looks like Armour-Davis and Earle will be game time decisions for the Goodyear Cotton Bowl against the Cincinnati Bearcats.
“I don’t think there are any issues among players available,” Saban told reporters. “Jalyn Armour-Davis has practiced some. We’ll make a game-time decision on whether he’s able to play. He’s a mature player, and he knows whether he can go out there and do his job. And JoJo Earle has practiced, as well.
“We’ll make game-time decisions on how much those guys are able to participate.”
Over the last two games, five-star true freshman Kool-Aid McKinstry has started in the place of Armour-Davis. With Josh Jobe ending his season after getting surgery for his turf toe, McKinstry will likely be starting regardless. It was a matter of whether or not JUCO transfer Khyree Jackson would be asked to start in the College Football Playoff semifinal opposite him.
Earle has been out for a longer period of time.
The freshman receiver, while being listed as a co-starter with Slade Bolden to begin the season, suffered an ankle injury while returning a punt against New Mexico State back on Nov. 13. Since then, he’s been trying to work his way back.
If Earle was able to return, it would be a significant boost for the pass-catchers in Alabama’s offense. John Metchie was lost for the season after tearing his ACL in the SEC Championship Game, and Earle has the ability to alleviate some of that loss.
The Aledo (Tex.) native has the long speed to win vertically, but he’s more effective being utilized on the short-to-intermediate routes, which is where Metchie had provided a complementary option to deep-threat Jameson Williams.
More than likely, Bolden will see an uptick in usage, and so will Ja’Corey Brooks, the tight ends Jahleel Billingsley and Cameron Latu and maybe even Javon Baker. But if Earle is available, he’ll certainly be a part of that game plan as well.
