Alabama’s Eddie Jackson Fractures Leg, Out For Season


Alabama star defensive back Eddie Jackson is out for the season after suffering a leg injury in the team’s win over Texas A&M on Saturday.


Alabama head coach Nick Saban announced after his team’s 33-14 win over Texas A&M on Saturday that star defensive back Eddie Jackson has been lost for the season with a fractured leg.

The safety left Alabama’s SEC West showdown against the Aggies when he was tackled awkwardly at the end of a punt return in the second half. He was unable to put any pressure on his left leg when he was on the sideline and was taken to the locker room via a cart shortly thereafter.

The loss of the 2015 all-SEC first-team selection, who ran an interception back 55 yards for a touchdown earlier in the year against Western Kentucky, is a big one for the Crimson Tide. Saban’s squad does not have the defensive backfield depth that they have had in the past. Hootie Jones will likely slide into the senior’s starting role at safety.

Jackson was also a big part of Alabama’s special teams, as we saw in the win over Tennessee when his punt return touchdown to start the fourth quarter served as the nail in the coffin for the Vols. Overall, he had three touchdowns (a Pick Six and two punt returns), 21 tackles, two pass breakups and an interception on the year. Xavian Marks is likely to be the primary punt returner now, as he has five returns for 105 yards (including a touchdown) this year.

As a dejected Jackson was being taken to the locker room during the victory, the crowd in Tuscaloosa chanted “Eddie! Eddie!”

Unfortunately for Alabama and its fans, that punt return will be Jackson’s last on-field contributions in 2016 as the Tide look toward a College Football Playoff berth.

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