Khyree Jackson, JoJo Earle injury updates from Alabama football coach Nick Saban
Alabama football cornerback Khyree Jackson is dealing with an ankle injury, Nick Saban said Monday.
Jackson sprained his ankle on a punt return in the win over ULM. He is one of four players who have been playing at corner with the first-team defense this season. Jackson walked off the field Saturday in a boot.
"I don't think it's significant, but when you have an ankle injury, you've got to go day to day," Saban said. "We'll see how he does this week."
Saban hopes JoJo Earle, the receiver and punt returner, can start doing dry-land work this week. Earle has been out since early August with a foot fracture.
"That's a medical decision," Saban said. "When he gets back, I really don't know for sure. Can't comment on it. I'm hoping sometime soon but I don't know when that might be."
No. 2 Alabama (3-0) plays Vanderbilt (3-1) on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium (6:30 p.m., SEC Network).
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On Aug. 10, Saban announced Earle had suffered a Jones fracture in his foot and would miss about six to eight weeks.
"We just have to see how it goes," Saban said in August. "Hopefully by maybe October 1st or something like that, he will be close to being ready to come back."
Earle has had some bad injury luck, already missing time during his freshman season in 2021. He suffered a leg injury in the New Mexico State game and didn't return until the Cotton Bowl.
"He was doing a really, really good job," Saban said in August. "Having a really good camp. Probably the best he has been on a consistent basis. Just saw a guy that grew up and was playing with a lot of confidence."
Earle's quickness could be used on offense, but Alabama has had success at punt returner in his absence. On Saturday, Kool-Aid McKinstry returned five punts for 136 yards. And he wasn't even the one who scored a punt return touchdown. Brian Branch brought one back for a 68-yard score.
In total, Alabama set the school record with 262 punt-return yards against the Warhawks.
Jackson has been in a four-man competition at cornerback that has been going on since preseason practices with McKinstry, Terrion Arnold and Eli Ricks.
Jackson started the Texas game opposite McKinstry, but he is third behind McKinstry and Arnold in snap counts through three games, per Pro Football Focus.
Alabama has rotated the four corners to different extents in each game this season. Jackson has given up two receptions on three targets, per PFF. Arnold has been the best of the group, allowing three receptions on eight targets.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Injury update on Alabama football cornerback Khyree Jackson
