Alabama got the win it needed in Week 2, and did it without arguably its best player, sophomore wide receiver Ryan Williams. Now, the 1-1 Crimson Tide are expected to have Williams back for Week 3 against Wisconsin at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Williams was knocked out of Alabama’s Week 1 loss to Florida State in the second half with a concussion, which made a bad day for the sophomore, even worse. Prior to the big hit that Williams took, the former five-star had a career-high three drops against the Seminoles and managed just 30 yards on five receptions.
Now, Kalen DeBoer, who announced Williams’s availability during his midweek teleconference with the media, and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, won’t just be expecting a return to the field, they’ll be hoping for a return to form.
As a 17-year-old freshman in 2024, Williams led the Tide in receiving yards, with 865 and eight touchdowns on 48 receptions. He burst onto the scene as one of college football’s preeminent deep threats and solidified his superstar status early in the season when the Tide knocked off Georgia in Tuscaloosa. Now, a rematch with the Bulldogs looms in a few weeks, and Williams only has one game to shake off any rust.
Without Williams on the field in Alabama’s 73-0 Week 2 victory over Louisiana Monroe, the Tide leaned on a group of young pass-catchers. Redshirt freshman running back Kevin Riley led the way with six targets, hauling in all six for 45 yards. Freshman Lotzeir Brooks caught four of five targets for 58 yards and redshirt sophomore Cole Adams caught three passes for 48 yards and a score.
The Tide played three different quarterbacks as they ran up the score on the Warhawks, and starter Ty Simpson looked much more comfortable in Week 2, completing all 17 of his passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns.
It would be hard to imagine the Alabama passing game playing any better than it did last Saturday but the return of Williams should help Simpson as the Tide return to Power Four competition against the Badgers. Last season against Wisconsin, Williams caught four passes for 78 yards and a touchdown.
Latest Ryan Williams injury update:
After missing Week 2 with a concussion, Ryan Williams is expected to return to the field on Saturday in Week 3 as the Crimson Tide host Wisconsin at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for Noon ET.