Alabama football is preparing to undergo most of the regular season without sophomore wide reciever Jalen Hale.

Hale suffered a “significant” knee injury on March 26 which required him to leave practice in an ambulance, per one report. On Wednesday at the Regions Tradition Celebrity Pro-Am, head coach Kalen DeBoer provided an update on Hale’s recovery timeline.

“This season will certainly be a tough one, but I don’t want to say he’ll be out for the whole year. It also depends on how long the season goes,” DeBoer said. “So he’s done an amazing job. And the process and recovery for him has been sped up just even since the injury happened in the spring. He has an amazing mindset about him.”

Hale appeared in 13 games as a freshman. He caught five passes for 148 yards and one touchdown, a 33-yard strike against Ole Miss. Hale committed to UA as a four-star recruit and top-10 wide receiver in the class of 2023.

Alabama’s 2024 regular season ends on Nov. 30 against Auburn. The Southeastern Conference Championship will be played a week later on Dec. 7 followed by the beginning of the College Football 12-team Playoff on Dec. 19.

Hale has posted on social media multiple times since the injury to thank fans for well wishes. He exited the hospital on March 30. The Tide will likely rely on Germie Bernard, Kobe Prentice, Kendrick Law and a group of talented freshmen while Hale continues to recover.

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].