Cooper, Five Other Starters Injured in Win Over Western Carolina
The University of Alabama held two parades on homecoming Saturday: one that provided the lead up to the school’s football game later that day and another once the game started that, a lot less ceremoniously, sent a number of Crimson Tide players to the sideline throughout the game.
In what was intended to be a slight step back after back-to-back physical games against LSU and then-No. 1 Mississippi State the past two weeks, six Alabama starters were injured and had to leave the field during the Crimson Tide’s 48-14 win over Western Carolina.
Amari Cooper, Cam Robinson, A’Shawn Robinson, Brian Vogler, Jalston Fowler and ArDarius Stewart all sustained injuries against the Catamounts though none are expected to be too serious, coach Nick Saban said.
Cooper was the first to pick up an injury, bruising his left knee on his third reception of the game, a 27-yard catch on the WCU 4, during the Crimson Tide’s first possession of the game. Cooper limped to the sideline and eventually to the locker room with trainers before returning to the sideline by Alabama’s next drive with a black sleeve on the injured knee. He did not play again for the remainder of the game.
“He could’ve gone back in the game and played – we don’t have a problem with him,” coach Nick Saban said.
Cooper caught three passes for 46 yards in the lone drive he played. He tied D.J. Hall’s school record of 194 career receptions on his third reception.
Both defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson and left tackle Cam Robinson sprained their ankles late in the first half and did not return. Fullback Jalston Fowler, who was injured on the same second-quarter play as Cam Robinson with a shoulder injury, was the only injured starter to return to the game.
“A’Shawn Robinson has an ankle sprain and should be okay. Cam Robinson has an ankle sprain and should be okay,” Saban said.
Tight end Brian Vogler and wide receiver ArDarius Stewart had to leave the game because of “stretched knee ligaments” and are thought to be the most serious of the injuries to occur during the game, Saban said. Both are questionable for Auburn next Saturday.
Alabama sat out running back T.J. Yeldon (ankle), wide receiver DeAndrew White (hamstring) and kicker Adam Griffith (undisclosed) to rest “reoccurring problems,” Saban said. Outside linebacker Denzel Devall also did not play due to an ankle injury sustained in Thursday’s practice.