T.J. Yeldon Injury: Updates on Alabama Star's Ankle, Hamstring and Return

Alabama star running back T.J. Yeldon is reportedly battling through ankle and hamstring injuries that have put his status for the Sugar Bowl in question.

D.C. Reeves of the Tuscaloosa News reported the details on Yeldon's status:

The Crimson Tide have the likes of bruising, sophomore ball-carrier Derrick Henry to lean on while Yeldon recuperates, but Henry isn't as capable of a receiver out of the backfield.

Yeldon has already dealt with a minor ankle sprain this season, missed the win over Western Carolina and hasn't been quite as impressive as he was in his first two years in Tuscaloosa.

Bleacher Report NFL draft expert Matt Miller still believes Yeldon is a potential second-round pick, which could temper his timeline to return to the gridiron:

When Kenyan Drake suffered a broken leg in the loss to Ole Miss earlier this season, it harmed the Tide's backfield depth and took away perhaps its speediest, most explosive option. Now it will likely be on Henry to take on almost a full-time feature role until Yeldon is fit enough to return.

If dual-threat Alabama quarterback Blake Sims doesn't have a strong rushing attack to lean on, it will be up to the fifth-year senior to be more aggressive and beat defenses with bigger plays of his own.

Alabama remains a heavy favorite over Ohio State, though losing a player of Yeldon's caliber is not the way they want to enter the first leg of college football's first playoff.