Alabama WR Derek Meadows helped off after scary hit: Latest injury updates

Alabama had injury concerns at the wide receiver position heading into its Week 7 matchup with Missouri, and those issues will be further exacerbated after true freshman Derek Meadows had to be helped off the field in the first quarter. 

Missouri defensive back Marvin Burks Jr. was ejected for targeting on the hit that laid out Meadows. The 6-foot-5 freshman receiver went up for a seam ball thrown high by Ty Simpson and took a big hit from the Missouri safety as a defenseless receiver. Meadows fell face-first to the turf and didn't appear to have any movement.

The Alabama athletic training staff ran onto the field immediately after Meadows went down, stabilized his neck, tested for movement, and eventually helped Meadows off the field without a stretcher or a cart. However, he is unlikely to return to the game and will likely be in concussion protocol. 

The throw from Simpson was the second target that Meadows received this season. He found his way onto the field because of Alabama’s injury issues at wide receiver, with sophomore superstar Ryan Williams limited throughout the week, and Jaylen Mbakwe and Jalen Hale both out. Only seven Alabama wide receivers traveled to Columbia to face the No. 14 Tigers, and with Williams limited, the Crimson Tide could be relying on just five players on the outside. 

Meadows was rated as a four-star recruit and the No. 18 wide receiver in the 2025 high school class. He was Alabama's highest-rated wide receiver in Kalen DeBoer's second recruiting class, but three-star Lotzeir Brooks has emerged as a major contributor for the offense. Brooks will need to be counted on in a big way against Missouri with Meadows out.

Derek Meadows injury update: 

Derek Meadows was helped to his feet and to the sideline after a big hit over the middle of the field from Marvin Burks Jr. Burks was ejected from the game for targeting. Meadows is also unlikely to return to the field.

UPDATE: According to Mike Rodak of Bama247, Meadows emerged from the locker room and returned to the sidelines in street clothes. He is officially done for the day and will not return.

POSTGAME UPDATE:

Kalen DeBoer confirmed that both Meadows and senior running back Jam Miller suffered concussions. Neither returned to the game, and DeBoer did not speculate on a timeline for either player to return with a matchup agaisnt Tennessee in Tuscaloosa looming next week.