TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (Sports Network) - Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram will miss Alabama's opener this Saturday against San Jose State after undergoing surgery on Tuesday morning to repair knee damage.
Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban said the junior running back hurt his left
knee in practice on Monday.
"It was a situation where everyone involved thought it would be better to take
care of now, so he would not have any issues with it later in the season,"
Saban stated.
"Mark had an arthroscopic procedure [Tuesday] morning with Dr. Cain and Dr.
Andrews and it was successful. We have full confidence in our medical staff
and we know the doctors and athletic trainers will do an outstanding job in
taking care of Mark and assisting him in his rehab."
Saban said Ingram will be monitored carefully on a week-to-week basis. The
top-ranked Tide will host Penn State on September 11.
"This is not an injury that will affect Mark's future ability to make a full
recovery in a relatively short time frame," Saban added.
Ingram became Alabama's first Heisman Trophy winner last year as a sophomore
and helped the Crimson Tide to the national title. He set the school rushing
record with 1,658 yards in 2009, while also catching 32 passes for 334 yards
and totalling 20 touchdowns.
A unanimous First-Team All-American, Ingram became the first running back to
capture the Heisman Trophy and national championship in the same season since
Tony Dorsett with Pittsburgh in 1976.
Sophomore Trent Richardson is expected to see the bulk of the workload on
Saturday against San Jose State.