Alabama's Nick Saban on RB T.J. Yeldon: 'I think he'll be able to play'
Alabama coach Nick Saban said Thursday that he thinks running back T.J. Yeldon will be able to play in Saturday's game against Mississippi State in Tuscaloosa, according to a report from AL.com.
Yeldon injured his ankle during the fourth quarter of last week's win over LSU.
Over nine games this season, Yeldon has rushed for a team-high 686 yards and five touchdowns to go with 12 receptions for 151 yards and a score. A big chunk of Alabama's rushing workload this season has also fallen to sophomore Derrick Henry, who has recorded 554 yards and four touchdowns on 111 carries.
Alabama ranks fifth in the SEC with 4.97 yards per carry.
Saban commended Yeldon, who has also caught 12 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown this season, for his pass blocking. The junior participated in 75-80 percent of practice this week, the report says.
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"I think he'll be able to play in the game. How explosive he'll be in the game remains to be seen," Saban said. "The kind of injury he has is something you can play with but if he practices too much, it really aggravates him. We just try to practice him enough so he's ready to play. He's certainly had a great season for us."
Alabama (8-1, 5-1 SEC) is ranked fifth in the latest version of the College Football Playoff rankings, while Mississippi State is ranked No. 1.
