ArDarius Stewart Injury: Updates on Alabama WR's Knee and Return
Alabama wide receiver ArDarius Stewart left Saturday's game against No. 19 Ole Miss during the first quarter with a leg injury.
Continue for updates.
Stewart Questionable for Week 4
Saturday, Sept. 17
According to Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News, Stewart sprained his knee, and it is uncertain whether he'll be able to play next week.
The junior was one of Alabama's most reliable receivers in 2015, racking up 700 yards and four touchdowns. Both of those numbers trailed only Calvin Ridley's in an offense led by quarterback Jake Coker.
But 2016 saw a change under center, as freshman Jalen Hurts took the starting reins after the departure of Coker.
It hasn't affected Stewart at all, as he's become Hurts' top target. Heading into Week 3 against Ole Miss, he led the SEC with 203 receiving yards, 101.5 yards per game and three receiving touchdowns, per Marq Burnett of SECCountry.com:
CBSSports.com ranks him as the No. 23 wide receiving prospect in the 2018 NFL draft.
While his absence could be a noticeable one if he is unable to go in Week 4 against Kent State, Hurts has shown that he can co-exist just as well with Ridley.
After a 129-yard effort in Week 2 against Western Kentucky, Ridley put up eight receptions for 81 yards against Ole Miss on Saturday.
Against a weaker opponent in Kent State, he should be more than enough to support Hurts and carry the aerial attack.
That could give Alabama an opportunity to sit Stewart and rest up the knee if there is any possibility of a more threatening injury brewing.
Starting in Week 5, the Crimson Tide are set to take on four consecutive currently ranked opponents in Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas A&M and LSU. So living without Stewart for a week or two in order to have him ready to go for the toughest stretch of their schedule might be a necessary course of action.
