Alabama running back Jam Miller did, in fact, suffer an injury during the final scrimmage of fall camp. Those rumors originally started to kick up late on Saturday night following that scrimmage, and were then confirmed by Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer early on Sunday morning.

“Jam Miller suffered an upper-body injury in Saturday’s scrimmage and went in for a procedure on Saturday evening,” DeBoer announced in a statement. “Jam should recover fully with a timetable for his return yet to be determined.”

Obviously, this news is less than ideal.

Miller is now a fourth-year senior who has slowly seen his workload increase over his years in Tuscaloosa. He stated off as a late-game, mop-up duty closer as a true freshman before earning more snaps (118 compared to 50) as a sophomore. That did lead to a few more carries (41 compared to 33), but the rushing production actually decreased (201 yards down from 233) before climbing in Year 3.

This past season, Miller led Alabama’s running backs in carries (145) and rushing yards (668) while tying for the most rushing touchdowns (7). Not only that, but he also added 16 catches for 155 yards and a touchdown while providing a viable threat out of the backfield. There’s no doubt that he’s going to be missed while sidelined.

Here’s what I said about him in my recent depth chart projections for Alabama’s offense:

“One thing was made blatantly clear in the early stages of fall camp: Jam Miller is Alabama’s top running back, and as of right now, it’s not particularly close. The former high school track star brings a complete, three-down skill set. He’s easily the top back in pass protection, and you can get creative in how you use him as far as splitting him out wide and putting him in motion.”

If there’s one silver lining, it’s that the Alabama coaching staff prepared for this type of thing. The only running back who was lost from last year’s team was Justice Haynes, who’s now playing for Michigan. Meanwhile, two players were brought in to bolster the room with top-100 talent AK Dear (the No. 2 running back from the 2025 recruiting cycle) and Louisiana transfer Dre Washington.

The top three competitors for snaps and carries now comes down to Richard Young, Daniel Hill and Washington. Kevin Riley and/or Dear could find themselves in the mix too, but those other three were already in a battle to see action. Following the first scrimmage, DeBoer highlighted how each of those guys did.

“Daniel Hill is a guy we’re getting more and more comfortable with,” DeBoer told reporters. “He’s a big back, but I think he’s deceiving when it comes to what he does from a skillset standpoint because he can catch the ball out of the backfield.

“Dre has been consistent all camp long. I thought he poured a couple of runs up in there. Did a nice job, maybe when there’s not even something there, just moving the pile and getting those three-yard gains that are important to setting your offense up for down-and-distances. Rich continues to do his thing too.

“So I think Jam certainly had the best day, and that’s been consistent. I feel good about all of them in pass protection, first with their responsibilities and the ability to go up there and execute too and get the job done with blitzes and things like that. Our running backs are doing a good job, and when they get out, they’ve been effective pass-catchers as well.”

There’s one thing I’d like to point out.

Following the 2023 season, Washington saw at least one player drafted from every offensive position group except for one. Can you guess which? Running back. Dillon Johnson was productive and effective, and yet, he went undrafted while others (quarterbacks, wide receivers and offensive linemen) all went on the first two days of the 2024 NFL Draft. Plus, tight end Devin Culp was selected in the seventh round and has since become a key piece for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Now, I’m not saying the running backs won’t be valued on the NFL level while playing in this offense. I’m saying you don’t have to field an elite player at the position for this offense to be effective. From a talent standpoint, Alabama’s group, even with Miller on the mend, is lightyears ahead of where Washington was in 2023 when they made it to the national championship.

To further drive this point home, do you even know who Washington’s top running back was back in 2022 while the Huskies were fielding a top-7 scoring offense and a top-2 offense in total yards per game? It’s OK if you can’t, I promise you won’t be the only one. But that should tell you everything you need to know because by that point, everyone knew about Michael Penix Jr. and the trio of wide receivers (Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan and Ja’Lynn Polk). The answer was Wayne Taulapapa, by the way.

Getting productive play at running back can elevate this offense to another level, and Alabama still has multiple guys who can get that job done. No, this doesn’t mean Miller won’t be missed. Prior to the injury, he was trending towards being one of the better backs in the SEC, in my opinion. He’s easily been the top player at that position in fall camp, but the Crimson Tide can still field an elite offense in his absence.