Eli Gold will officially make his return to the Alabama football Crimson Tide Sports Network broadcast team on the radio for the 2023 season. However, he won’t have full-time play-by-play duties.

Gold will take play-by-play on Alabama home games this season with Tyler Watts as color analyst according to a news release from UA athletics. When the Crimson Tide goes on the road, Chris Stewart will be on play-by-play alongside Watts.

Watts, a former Alabama quarterback, replaces John Parker Wilson in the booth, where the latter spent the past five seasons. Watts played from 1999-2002 at Alabama, where he threw for 3,540 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Gold, Stewart and Watts will be joined on the broadcast by Christian Miller, who will continue as sideline reporter for his second season.

Gold, who has called Alabama football since 1988. missed all of last season due to health issues, including cancer of his esophagus. Stewart took over play-by-play duties in Gold’s absence.

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During Alabama’s preseason camp scrimmages, Gold has been in the booth doing unaired calls, looking to get back into the swing of play-by-play. Nick Saban said earlier in camp that he was excited to have Gold back on the call.

“I’m just happy for him and his family that he’s getting healthier,” Saban said. “He’s able to get around and he’s going to be able to get back and do what he loves doing. We’re going to do everything we can to support him and even though it may not be 100 percent full-throttle — sort of working him back into it. But I’m excited to have him back because I love working with him.”

Alabama opens the season at home on Sept. 2 against Middle Tennessee State.