Tuscaloosa, Ala. – Alabama offensive lineman William Sanders underwent tightrope surgery on Monday after sustaining a lower‑extremity injury in the Crimson Tide’s 31‑20 victory over Texas A&M. The procedure, confirmed by the university’s NIL Collective, marks the latest setback for a player who has started every game this season.
Coach DeBoer Provides Update
Head coach Kalen DeBoer addressed the situation on Saturday, noting that Sanders “has a lower‑extremity injury; get evaluated. He’s probably the one guy that could be out for a little bit.” DeBoer added, “So, we’ll kind of see and know more tomorrow, for sure. But maybe not a week or two. It might be a couple more than that.” The coach emphasized that the timeline for Sanders’ return remains uncertain, but the team will monitor his progress closely.
Impact on the Offensive Line
Sanders has been a stalwart at left guard, logging seven starts this season. When he has missed time at left guard, backup Mal Waldrep Jr. has stepped in, including the recent game against Texas A&M. Waldrep also filled in at center for Racin Delgatty during the loss to Georgia, when Delgatty suffered a lower‑body injury.
If Sanders remains sidelined, Waldrep is expected to assume the left‑guard duties against LSU on Nov. 7. Should both Sanders and Delgatty be unavailable, the depth chart indicates that Waldrep would shift to center while Michigan transfer Kaden Strayhorn would take over left guard, a role he performed in the win over the Aggies.
Looking Ahead
Alabama now has a bye week before traveling to Baton Rouge for its next contest against No. 15 LSU. The Tide will use the break to assess Sanders’ recovery and finalize its offensive line configuration for the upcoming challenge.
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Original reporting: The Tuscaloosa Thread — read the source article.
