Alabama QB Bryce Young leaves Tide's 49-26 win over Arkansas with shoulder injury

Alabama QB Bryce Young left the Crimson Tide’s game against Arkansas in the second quarter with a shoulder injury after a third-down throw and never returned in No. 2 Alabama's 49-26 win.

The reigning Heisman winner wasn’t hit at all on the play as he fired an incomplete pass over the middle to Traeshon Holden. Young’s right throwing arm immediately dangled at his side and he grimaced after the throw. He pointed to his right shoulder when he looked at coach Nick Saban as he walked off the field and threw his helmet down in disgust before entering Alabama’s injury tent.

Young was sacked while running to the sideline on Alabama’s previous drive. He attempted to get rid of the ball as he fell toward the sideline and landed with his right arm extended away from his body.

The throw to Holden was Young’s first throw after that sack. The CBS broadcast reported that Young was screaming in pain in Alabama’s injury tent while he was being examined.

After he spent minutes in the injury tent, Young went to the locker room and was clearly favoring his right shoulder and Saban said after the game that Young had a sprained shoulder, though the injury wasn't that serious. While his star QB came back onto the field during halftime, he never re-entered the game.

Jalen Milroe replaced Young at QB for the Crimson Tide. Young was 7-of-13 passing for 173 yards and a passing and a rushing touchdown before he exited the game. Milroe scored a rushing TD on his first drive at quarterback to put the Crimson Tide up 21-0 and Alabama entered the break with a 28-7 lead.

Alabama breaks away late

No. 20 Arkansas made a game of it in the third quarter before Alabama pulled away later in the fourth quarter. Arkansas cut the Alabama lead to five after 16 unanswered points in the quarter and looked to seize the game in the final period.

Milroe made sure that didn’t happen. He ran for 77 yards on a 3rd and 15 and set up a three-yard TD run for Jase McClellan. Alabama forced a three-and-out on Arkansas’ next possession and Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for a 72-yard TD on Alabama’s first offensive play. Gibbs then ran for a 76-yard TD after Arkansas kicked a field goal to seal the game.

Alabama rushed for 313 yards as Gibbs ended with 18 carries for 206 yards and two catches for 20 yards to help the Tide cover the 17.5-point spread without their star.

But while Milroe played well in relief, it’s easy to see how Alabama’s national title hopes still hinge on Young’s health. He’s the best quarterback in college football and the Crimson Tide don’t have the star weapons at wide receiver that they had a year ago. Alabama has a struggling Texas A&M at home in Week 6 before a huge visit to No. 8 Tennessee in Week 7. The Tide will certainly hope to have Young back for that trip to Knoxville.