ALTA CUSCALOOSA, AL Wide receiver Jermaine Burton, who missed last Saturday’s game against Kentucky due to illness, is back to practicing, according to Alabama coach Nick Saban. However, things aren’t looking good for Deontae Lawson and Jaylen Key, who both missed the game due to injuries.
“What’s up, Jermaine Burton? After practice on Wednesday night, Saban remarked, “He’s practiced.” “Jaylen and Deontae are both exercising, running, recovering, and getting close to being prepared for practice and competition, but it’s still unclear if they’ll be able to play.
“If guys can’t practice (Thursday), we don’t think they’re healthy enough to play in the game, but we’ll see.”
The three players—Lawson due to an ankle injury, Key due to a quad injury, and Burton due to illness—did not play in last Saturday’s 49-21 victory over Kentucky.
Redshirt sophomore inside linebacker Lawson has started eight games so far this year, but he was not present for last week’s 49-21 victory over Kentucky and the 40-17 victory over Mississippi State. Lawson finished eighth on the team with 52 total tackles in eight games, including 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and eight pressures.
Key, a senior safety in his fifth year, has started nine games so far this season but left Alabama’s 42-28 victory over LSU due to a quad injury. He has the sixth-most tackle total on the team with 46, along with 1.5 tackles for loss and an interception.
Leading Alabama’s pass-catcher with 26 receptions for 537 yards and five touchdowns is senior receiver Burton. It was the first game he had missed entirely, on Saturday. Against Mississippi State, he only made seven snaps of action.
Junior receiver Ja’Corey Brooks, who also missed last Saturday’s game due to a shoulder injury, has spent most of his season playing on special teams. In a 24-10 victory over Ole Miss, he blocked a punt and recorded three receptions for 30 yards. Brooks was one of Alabama’s top receivers the previous season, finishing with 39 receptions for 674 yards and eight touchdowns.
