If you traveled to Tuscaloosa for Alabama's A-Day game on Saturday, hoping to get a first glimpse at 5-star freshman RB EJ Crowell in a Crimson Tide uniform, you would've had to leave disappointed.
The electric back out of Jackson High School, who is one of the most accomplished running backs in the history of the state, has been dealing with an injury throughout spring practice that has limited his ability to take reps.
Kalen DeBoer has avoided sounding any alarms, and it has all seemed more precautionary for a player who is expected to play a vital role for Alabama in 2026. But during the A-Day game on Saturday, Crowell was seen with a boot on his right foot and using a scooter to get around:
Alabama freshman RB EJ Crowell is in a boot while riding a scooter. pic.twitter.com/WaicAaF6wE
— Hunter De Siver (@HunterDeSiver) April 11, 2026
Alabama RB EJ Crowell in walking boot and riding a scooter during A-Day
This was seen as a big spring for Crowell. He reclassified prior to the 2025 high school season so he could jump to college a year earlier. He should be getting ready for his senior season of high school, but instead is looking to crack the Crimson Tide's RB rotation a year early.
He needs all the reps he can get as a freshman in his first spring practice. Unfortunately, a lingering injury has prevented many on-field reps for the promising first-year running back.
Hopefully, the injury issue remains just precautionary, though Alabama fans were certainly concerned seeing the scooter and boot. It's important to remember, though, that athletic trainers tend to immobilize injuries nowadays, regardless of the severity. So it's not really possible to know what the extent of the injury is by just seeing that.
DeBoer will talk to the media after A-Day, and hopefully, more light will be shed on the injury then. We'll update this post as soon as DeBoer provides any information.