Alabama junior running back Jalston Fowler will likely miss the remainder of the 2012 season due to a knee injury, head coach Nick Saban told reporters Monday. Fowler injured his knee during Saturday’s game vs. Western Kentucky and will need surgery to repair the damage. He was carted off the field in obvious pain and did not return to the game.

“I know he feels badly,” Saban said. “We feel badly, too, for him that he can’t be a part and be able to contribute to our team this year.”

Saban did not disclose the exact nature of the injury and did not discount a return to the field late in the season.

The 6-foot-1, 242-pound bruiser primarily played backup running back during his Crimson Tide career, but had seen time at H-back and fullback this season, a new wrinkle in new offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier’s system. Fowler’s size also made him the go-to back in short-yardage and goal line situations.

“Jalston’s been a great player in the program,” Saban said. “A great special teams guy, a great backup player for us and a really good attitude guy and has lots of character. A really good competitor.”

The loss of Fowler leaves the Tide with only three fully-healthy options at running back, all of which are freshmen. Starter Eddie Lacy has been limited by an ankle injury and missed all of spring practice with a toe injury.

True freshman T.J. Yeldon opened eyes with his season-opening performance against Michigan, rushing for over 100 yards for the first time in Crimson Tide history as a debuting freshman. Redshirt freshman Dee Hart is a smaller back at 5-foot-9, 190 lbs. and true freshman Kenyan Drake scored on a 32-yard run late in Saturday’s game against Western Kentucky.

“We have backups at every one of the positions and roles that he filled. There may not be one particular guy,” Saban said. “At running back, Dee Hart, Kenyan Drake will have a little more opportunity. Kelly [Johnson] was his backup at fullback, which is where he plays anyway. … It’s going to take a number of people to replace him in various roles that he played on our team.”

If Fowler does not return to the field in 2012, he would be eligible for a medical redshirt, which would allow him to return in 2013 as a junior and not lose a year of eligibility.

“We’re all going to pray for Jalston that hopefully he’ll get back out there soon,” wide receiver Kevin Norwood said. “But the only thing we really can do is move on and make sure everybody is focused and preparing right for [Arkansas].”