Two days after defeating Texas A&M 49-42, Nick Saban addressed injuries to Deion Belue, Kevin Norwood and Anthony Steen at his Monday press conference. Saban said all three players are day-to-day, with Belue and Norwood being questionable and Steen probable for Saturday’s game against Colorado State.
Belue suffered an apparent turf toe injury and was wearing a walking boot and sweatpants for the entire second half in College Station, Texas. Norwood, who scored first for the Crimson Tide, limped off the field in the third quarter.
Steen, the offensive line’s veteran presence, was replaced by senior Kellen Williams on the team’s final drive. Williams played extensively against Virginia Tech after early struggles in the season opener.
“[Williams] deserves a lot of credit,” quarterback AJ McCarron said. “For a guy to sit there the whole game and have to stay in the game mentally, and to come in on the last drive to help lead us down the field, [he did an] unbelievable job. It really says a lot about him as a player, as a teammate and as a person, too … He really made some good blocks to help us put points on the board.”
Belue was bothered by a nagging hamstring injury in the 2013 preseason that kept him sidelined from several scrimmages.
Yeldon releases statement on touchdown celebration
Before Saban’s comments, Alabama’s athletic communications distributed a statement from running back T.J. Yeldon regarding the personal foul that incurred after his touchdown in the second quarter.
“I want to apologize to everyone for my selfish actions on Saturday,” the statement read. “That is not the way I want to represent myself, my family and our team. That is not the way we do things at Alabama.”
Yeldon, who finished with 149 yards off 25 carries and the one touchdown, earned the Crimson Tide a 15-yard penalty on the ensuing kickoff and an earful from Saban upon his return to the sideline.
“This is something that I will learn from, and I will use better judgment in the future.”
Sunseri scores for second consecutive game
Also discussed Monday was Vinnie Sunseri’s interception return for a touchdown in the early third quarter.
“It was a great opportunity to make a play during the game,” Sunseri said. “And all credit goes to [defensive back] Jarrick Williams. He made the play. I was just there to catch the ball and run it in for him.”
The score was Sunseri’s second pick-six in as many games. The interception was his fourth career turnover and capped a mid-game 35-point run for the Crimson Tide.
