Keon Sabb will not be back for Alabama football in 2024.
Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said Monday Sabb would be out for the rest of the season. This follows DeBoer saying the safety would be out for "a while" after leaving the Tennessee game with a lower-extremity injury.
DeBoer did not have a significant timeline for Sabb's return.
"We expect him back and ready to roll for next year, of course," DeBoer said.
Alabama wide receiver Cole Adams and linebacker Que Robinson are also out with season-ending injuries.
After the injury against Tennessee, DeBoer said Sabb had surgery and was away from the team for a few days, but has played a role in the defensive backs room throughout his recovery.
"He's a guy that has really grown relationships with the team," DeBoer said. "We want him around here. He's one of those guys, just like the others that are done for the year, too, that care so much about the team. And we care about him."
DeBoer said Sabb has shown a commitment level to the Alabama football program as a whole, a commitment the coaching staff and players continue to show him.
"These injuries are hard for guys," DeBoer said. "Because it's not their only identity, but this is a big part of what they do, playing football."
Midway through the second quarter of the Crimson Tide 's loss to Tennessee on Oct. 19, Sabb hobbled off the field, helped by trainers. Sabb's left leg was wrapped on the sideline. He returned to the game in the second half, and played 30 snaps overall.
Bray Hubbard has been Sabb's replacement at safety for Alabama's wins against Missouri , LSU and Mercer, in which he totaled 13 tackles, two interceptions and two pass deflections.
"When the opportunity came, Bray was so locked in every single week and locked in and prepared like he was the starter," Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said. "(He) did a great job of communicating even with that second group of twos in practice every single day, and really was probably the glue that held that group of young DBs together. When his opportunity came, he was ready for it. He's playing at a really high level because he was preparing at a really high level all season long."
Sabb finished his first season with Alabama with 39 tackles, two interceptions and four pass deflections in seven games.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football safety Keon Sabb out for rest of 2024 season
