Alabama fans held their breath last week as DeVonta Smith and Patrick Surtain II were on punt return.
Both players performed well, especially Smith on a 41-yard return versus Kentucky, but supporters of the Crimson Tide do not want another situation like what happened to Jaylen Waddle. He suffered a right ankle sprain with a fracture in a meeting against Tennessee, and it required surgery. Nick Saban announced he would miss the remainder of the season.
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Slade Bolden returned two punts at Bryant-Denny Stadium, and sustained an injury after his second return.
He missed the rest of the game versus the Wildcats, due to a twisted ankle. According to Saban, the medical staff did not believe it was anything serious. However, the team does not have a prognosis on it as of now.
“He’s gonna be out probably for a day or two and just see how he responds,” Saban said of Bolden on Monday. “Those twisted ankles are a little bit hard to sometimes figure out how a guy will respond.”
Alabama has had to adjust on special teams with Waddle out.
It has used Bolden, Smith and Surtain on punt return and has also changed its look on kick return too.
Hopefully, the redshirt sophomore will be able to play against Auburn in the Iron Bowl.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
