Alabama sophomore Jalen Hale sustained a “significant” knee injury during the Tide’s Tuesday practice.
According to head coach Kalen DeBoer, Hale will be out in the spring. DeBoer told reporters at a news conference Thursday that Hale’s return date is unknown.
Hale was one of the team’s wide receivers who returned after Jermaine Burton left for the NFL Draft and Isaiah Bond, Amari Niblack, and Malik Benson transferred. Hale was third among the 2023 offense’s returning pass catchers, behind Kobe Prentice and CJ Dippre, with 148 yards.
Hale caught one touchdown throw, a 33-yard fly route from Jalen Milroe. Each took a heavy hit for six points in an eventual victory over Ole Miss. Hale recorded large grabs against Kentucky and Chattanooga before going without a catch for the final three games of the season.
“He’ll be down for the spring, but there’s some evaluation that will still take place to kind of figure out what that timeline will be as far as the rest of the year,” DeBoer said in a statement.
Tide Illustrated’s Tony Tsoukalas stated that Hale left Alabama’s practice in an ambulance.
Alabama wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard commended Prentice for knowing the new playbook better than anyone this spring. Kendrick Law, a freshman who grew into a do-it-all piece for Tommy Rees, has the potential to be a weapon in DeBoer’s scheme. Germie Bernard, a Washington transfer, was photographed wearing a black practice jersey at a media viewing session last week, but there does not appear to be any long-term worry.
Ryan Williams, a highly regarded five-star prospect, will enter this summer after graduating from Saraland. Emmanuel Henderson, a third-year athlete, and Jaren Hamilton, a rookie, are two other names to keep in mind ahead of A-Day on April 13.
