The Jaylen Waddle status mystery hit the field of practice on Tuesday, when Alabama began preparations for Ohio State in the CFP national title game.
The ankle injury that seemed to end its season in October healed to the point that Alabama’s explosive receiver returned to the field six days before the game began.
“We’ll see where it goes from here,” said Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian on Wednesday morning. “Of course, we have about a week until the game, so probably a better question for Coach Saban, but yes, he went back to training yesterday.”
Waddle did not appear in the 2-minute, 26-second video Alabama released from its closed practice, but received good reviews from teammates.
“Of course it will take some time just to be comfortable with everything,” said DeVonta Smith, another recipient and winner of the Heisman Trophy, “but he looks good to me.”
And your quarterback?
“Yes, he really looked very good,” said Mac Jones, “but I don’t know if I can answer that question properly because you have to ask Coach Saban and the training team.”
Waddle is number 3 among Alabama’s pass receivers in receptions (25) and yards (557), despite having lost the final eight games of the season due to an ankle injury sustained in the initial kick in Tennessee.
AL.com said on Monday that Waddle would be back on the training ground this week and could play next Monday in the title game.
“Waddle looks fine,” said receiver John Metchie. “He’s doing a lot of treatment. He’s on top of everything and I feel like that. When he comes back, when he comes back, I think everyone knows what he brings and what it brings when he is on the field for defense, how they see it, how dynamic our attack is ”.
Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or in Facebook.