Report: Alabama cornerback Eddie Jackson has torn ACL
Alabama will be without one its most promising young defensive backs for at least the rest of spring practice and maybe longer.
ESPN.com reported Sunday that sophomore cornerback Eddie Jackson, who started four games as a true freshman last season, has a torn ACL. Jackson had been working with the first-team defense throughout spring practice and had been praised for his consistency by head coach Nick Saban, who confirmed Jackson's injury on Monday.
"Eddie Jackson had an MRI Sunday which confirmed that he had ligament damage in his knee that required surgery," Saban said in a statement. "We have a great medical staff here and he will have the full support of everyone in the organization as he goes through the rehab process. We are confident Eddie will make a full recovery and be ready to go this fall."
Saban said that Jackson sustained the injury when he jumped for the football and “came down funny.” His recovery time is expected to take “about five months.”
“Eddie was having a great spring and [was] probably our best corner, most consistent,” Saban said.
Jackson registered 19 tackles, one interception and recovered two fumbles in his first season in Tuscaloosa.
With Jackson on the mend, juniors Bradley Sylve and Cyrus Jones and sophomore Maurice Smith have the most experience among the remaining cornerbacks, though none of them have been full-time starters. True freshmen Tony Brown, an early enrollee, and Marlon Humphrey – both five-star recruits – will also compete for playing time.
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