Alabama football was without its top wide receiver on Saturday, with Jermaine Burton staying home from the Crimson Tide’s 49-21 win over Kentucky in Lexington. The Crimson Tide still managed to clinch the SEC West and went for 285 passing yards and three touchdowns.

After the game, Alabama head coach Nick Saban said Burton’s absence was related to illness.

“Jermaine is just sick,” Saban said. “I mean, he was so sick, couldn’t even make the trip. And hopefully he’ll get better, that won’t be a long-term thing.”

Alabama also missed Burton’s fellow wideout, Ja’Corey Brooks. Brooks also missed the Crimson Tide’s win over LSU last week.

Brooks has been dealing with a shoulder injury, which Saban noted was again the reason for his absence.

Defensively, Alabama was without inside linebacker Deontae Lawson and safety Jalen Key. Lawson suffered an ankle injury in the second half of the LSU game, while Key went down in the first half with a thigh issue.

“They’ll be day-to-day again this week,” Saban said of Brooks and Key. “Same thing with Lawson. “So we’ll just have to see how it goes. But I was really pleased with the way the guys that filled in today and took their place (played).”

Saban singled out linebackers Trezmen Marshall and Jihaad Campbell as players who performed well in relief of their teammates.

Alabama will be back in action next Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium against Chattanooga.