Alabama Football G11 vs WCU 2014
Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper (9) is injured during the first quarter of the Tide's 48-14 win over Western Carolina on Nov. 22, 2014.
(Vasha Hunt/vhunt@al.com)
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- From his seat on the Alabama bench, Amari Cooper hardly moved. The Tide offense was driving on the other end of the field, but his head never turned.
Alabama's Heisman candidate's day ended early Saturday afternoon and he wasn't alone. With the Iron Bowl looming seven days later, the Crimson Tide had six starters helped off the field during the 48-14 win over Western Carolina.
Coach Nick Saban said none of the injuries were too serious, but a few could be questionable for practice entering Auburn week.
The offense was hit the hardest. Left tackle Cam Robinson sprained an ankle and didn't return. Jalston Fowler was hurt on the same second-quarter snap, but was back the next series after having his shoulder examined.
Both tight end Brian Vogler, and receiver ArDarius Stewart "stretched knee ligaments," Saban said. Vogler was helped straight to the locker room after the third quarter injury.
"They're probably the guys that are most questionable," Saban said.
Cooper's injury was the first of the long line.
Catching his third pass of the game, the leading receiver streaked to the end zone when cornerback Trey Morgan clipped his left knee. Cooper immediately grabbed his leg and limped to the sideline. After attempting to ride the stationary bike, he was led to the locker room with trainers. He jogged out moments later, but rarely moved from his seat after that.
Saban said it was a bruised knee and Cooper could have gone back to the game if needed. There were a few tense moments in Bryant-Denny Stadium when its star was clutching a knee.
"I was a little worried when Amari Cooper went down," safety Nick Perry said. "But apparently he's fine and he was walking around on the sideline. So, it's all good."
Perry said Cooper told him he wanted to go back into the game, but coaches wanted him to rest. His three catches gave him 194 for his career, tying D.J. Hall for the career school record.
On defense, nose guard A'Shawn Robinson never returned to the sideline after spraining his ankle in the second quarter. Reserve linebacker Reuben Foster delivered a big hit on a first half kickoff, but went immediately to the bench with a towel on his head. Starting outside linebacker Denzel Devall never played after injuring his ankle in practice Thursday.
Seeing so many top players leave the game didn't impact hard-hitting safety Landon Collins' psyche. He didn't hesitate crushing Western Carolina kicker Richard Sigmon on a fake field goal in the third quarter.
"No, definitely not. It's a game, a game of football and that stuff happens," Collins said. "We just have to play hard. If it's going to happen, it's in God's hands. If it's going to happen, it's going to happen. I just continue to play hard and as a defense we continue to play hard and finish every play."
Seeing teammates limp off the field got to linebacker Reggie Ragland, though.
"It affected us some," he said. "The guys have been rocking with us all year but the next guy had to come in and hopefully he's prepared all week like they're supposed to and a bunch of guys did that."
Alabama was already playing with a shorter deck than normal. Starters T.J. Yeldon (ankle), DeAndrew White (hamstring) and kicker Adam Griffith (undisclosed) were all held out to rest nagging injuries. All could have played, Saban said, but they thought a week off would be more beneficial.