Alabama

Alabama NFL roundup: Jameson Williams: ‘The start of me being me’

Published

2 years ago

September 9, 2024

Alabama NFL roundup: Jameson Williams: ‘The start of me being me’

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams had an abbreviated rookie season as he recovered from a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in his final game at Alabama.

His second season got off to a late start as he served an NFL-imposed suspension for violating the league’s gambling policy.

Williams started his third season on time on Sunday night, and he was ready out of the gate.

Williams had five receptions for 121 yards and one touchdown and a 13-yard run in the Lions’ 26-20 overtime victory against the Los Angeles Rams.

“I never got a game ball,” Williams said while holding one after the victory. “Not at Bama, not a nowhere. I ain’t even going to lie, this thing right here might not leave my hands. I might sleep like this.”

Williams caught a 52-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jared Goff as Detroit took a 17-3 lead with 10:29 left in the third quarter.

Williams recorded the first 100-yard receiving game of his career. His previous high had been 69 yards.

“Me, personally, I expected to have a big game,” Williams said. “I guess it’s just big to the world because it’s my first one. But I plan to have a lot more. I don’t plan on this being the best game of my career. I plan on this just being the start of me being me.”

Williams was among the 40 former Alabama players who got on the field on the first Sunday of the NFL’s 105th season.

Four other former Alabama players were involved in the Los Angeles-Detroit game:

· Terrion Arnold started at cornerback for the Lions. Arnold made eight tackles in his NFL debut. Arnold joined Detroit in the first round of the NFL Draft on April 25.

· Brian Branch started at safety for the Lions. Branch made seven tackles, recorded one tackle for loss and broke up three passes.

· Rams tight end Miller Forristall is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 40 yards and one touchdown on 11 carries and caught four passes for 34 yards. Gibbs scored on a 1-yard run as Detroit took a 10-3 lead with 1:57 left in the first half.

In the other Sunday games:

Pittsburgh Steelers 18, Atlanta Falcons 10

· Steelers cornerback Anthony Averett is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Minkah Fitzpatrick started at safety for the Steelers. Fitzpatrick led Pittsburgh with seven tackles, including six solo stops.

· Najee Harris started at running back for the Steelers. Harris ran for a game-high 70 yards on 20 carries and had a 9-yard reception.

· Falcons safety DeMarcco Hellams is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Falcons running back Jase McClellan was designated as a game-day inactive.

Buffalo Bills 34, Arizona Cardinals 28

· Bills safety Kareem Jackson is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Bills wide receiver Tyrell Shavers in on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Jonah Williams started at right offensive tackle for the Cardinals. Williams left the game in the second half with a knee injury and did not return.

· Mack Wilson (Carver-Montgomery) started at inside linebacker for the Cardinals. Wilson matched his career high of nine tackles, first achieved on Dec. 29, 2019, in the Cleveland Browns’ 33-23 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Wilson also had one tackle for loss and one pass breakup in his first game with Arizona. Wilson joined the Cardinals in the offseason as a free agent.

Chicago Bears 24, Tennessee Titans 17

· J.C. Latham started at left offensive tackle for the Titans in his first NFL game. Latham joined Tennessee as a first-round selection in the NFL Draft on April 25.

· Calvin Ridley started at wide receiver for the Titans. Ridley had three receptions for 50 yards in his first game for Tennessee. He joined the Titans as a free agent during the offseason.

New England Patriots 16, Cincinnati Bengals 10

· Patriots wide receiver Javon Baker was designated as a game-day inactive.

· Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore is on the non-football illness list and not eligible to play. A problem with blood clots has sidelined Barmore.

· Bengals safety Jordan Battle did not record any stats.

· Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton did not record any stats in his NFL debut.

· Anfernee Jennings (Dadeville) started at outside linebacker for the Patriots. Jennings made one tackle

Houston Texans 29, Indianapolis Colts 27

· Will Anderson Jr. started at defensive end for the Texans. Anderson made two tackles and recorded one tackle for loss.

· Colts defensive tackle Raekwon Davis did not record any stats in his first game with Indianapolis. Davis joined the Colts as a free agent in the offseason.

· Texans linebacker Christian Harris is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Ryan Kelly started at center for the Colts.

· Texans wide receiver John Metchie III was designated as a game-day inactive.

· Henry To’oTo’o started at linebacker for the Texans. To’oTo’o led Houston with seven tackles, recorded one tackle for loss and broke up one pass.

Miami Dolphins 20, Jacksonville Jaguars 17

· Dolphins guard Lester Cotton (Central-Tuscaloosa) did not record any stats.

· Dolphins defensive tackle Da’Shawn Hand made two tackles.

· Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones dressed for the game but did not play.

· Cam Robinson started at left offensive tackle for the Jaguars.

· Jaguars running back Keilan Robinson is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

· Tua Tagovailoa started at quarterback for the Dolphins. Tagovailoa completed 23-of-37 passes for 338 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions and had an 11-yard run. Tagovailoa threw an 80-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tyreek Hill as Miami cut Jacksonville’s lead to 17-14 with 2:08 left in the third quarter.

TUA TAGOVAILOA SPEAKS UP, MIAMI DOLPHINS COME BACK

· Jaylen Waddle started at wide receiver for the Dolphins. Waddle had five receptions for 109 yards, including a 63-yarder. He also had a 3-yard run. Waddle recorded the 11th 100-yard game of his NFL career.

New Orleans Saints 47, Carolina Panthers 10

· Saints cornerback Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry (Pinson Valley) made two tackles in his NFL debut. McKinstry joined New Orleans in the second round of the NFL Draft on April 26.

· Panthers defensive lineman LaBryan Ray (James Clemens) was designated as a game-day inactive.

· A’Shawn Robinson started at defensive end for the Panthers. Robinson reached a career high with nine tackles in his first game for Carolina. He joined the Panthers as a free agent this offseason. Robinson previously had five games with eight tackles.

· Bryce Young started at quarterback for the Panthers. Young completed 13-of-30 passes for 161 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions and ran four times for 12 yards and one touchdown. Young’s 3-yard run with 4:45 left in the third quarter was the first rushing touchdown of his career.

BRYCE YOUNG’S SECOND NFL SEASON STARTS WITH AN INTERCEPTION

Minnesota Vikings 28, New York Giants 6

· Giants offensive tackle Evan Neal dressed but did not play. Sunday’s game was the first in Neal’s career for which he was active, but he did not start. Neal missed nine games last season because of ankle injuries.

· Vikings kicker Will Reichard (Hoover) made four extra-points in his NFL debut. Reichard joined Minnesota as a sixth-round pick in the NFL Draft on April 27. He did not attempt a field goal in his first game.

· Vikings outside linebacker Dallas Turner made three tackles and recorded one sack in his NFL debut. Turner joined Minnesota in the first round of the NFL Draft on April 25. Turner registered his first NFL sack when he took down New York quarterback Daniel Jones for a 4-yard loss on a first-and-10 snap from the Giants 41-yard line with 14 seconds left in the first half.

Los Angeles Chargers 22, Las Vegas Raiders 10

· Bradley Bozeman (Handley) started at center for the Chargers.

· Chargers defensive tackle Justin Eboigbe was designated as a game-day inactive.

· Chargers offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Chargers punter JK Scott had a 47.4-yard average on seven punts, with a 37.7-yard net. Scott had a 28-yard punt out of bounds at the Las Vegas 21-yard line, a 51-yarder for a fair catch at the Las Vegas 32, a 52-yarder for a fair catch at the Las Vegas 9, a 55-yarder for a touchback, a 56-yarder with a 7-yard return to the Las Vegas 34, a 49-yarder for a touchback and a 41-yarder with a 21-yard return to the Las Vegas 48.

Seattle Seahawks 26, Denver Broncos 20

· Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Jarran Reed started at defensive end for the Seahawks. Reed did not record any stats.

· Broncos linebacker Drew Sanders is on the physically-unable-to-perform list and not eligible to play.

· Patrick Surtain II started at cornerback for the Broncos. Surtain made six tackles and broke up one pass.

· Broncos cornerback Levi Wallace did not record any stats in his first game with Denver. Wallace joined Denver as a free agent in the offseason.

Dallas Cowboys 33, Cleveland Browns 17

· Browns cornerback Tony Brown is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Browns guard Javion Cohen (Central-Phenix City) was designated as a game-day inactive. Cohen made Cleveland’s roster as an undrafted rookie.

· Amari Cooper started at wide receiver for the Browns. Cooper had two receptions for 16 yards in his first game against his former team. Dallas traded Cooper to Cleveland in 2022.

· Trevon Diggs started at cornerback for the Cowboys. Diggs made five tackles, intercepted one pass and broke up another in his first game since Sept. 17, 2023. A knee injury sustained in practice caused Diggs to miss the final 15 games of the 2023 season. With 19 interceptions, Diggs is tied for ninth among Alabama’s NFL alumni with Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. On Sunday, Diggs picked off Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson at the Dallas 22-yard line with 9:06 left to play.

· Jerome Ford started at running back for the Browns. Ford ran for 44 yards and one touchdown on 12 carries and caught six passes for 25 yards. Ford scored on a 2-yard run with 29 seconds to play.

· Jerry Jeudy started at wide receiver for the Browns. Jeudy had three receptions for 25 yards and one touchdown in his first game with Cleveland. Jeudy joined the Browns in an offseason trade with the Denver Broncos. He scored on a 6-yard pass from quarterback Deshaun Watson with 8:42 left in the third quarter.

· Browns tight end Cameron Latu is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Dalvin Tomlinson started at defensive tackle for the Browns. Tomlinson made three tackles and recorded one sack.

· Browns offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. was designated as a game-day inactive. Wills is recovering from a knee injury that caused him to miss the final nine games of the 2023 season, and he has been a limited participant in practice.

Washington Commanders 37, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20

· Jonathan Allen started at defensive tackle for the Commanders. Allen made two tackles and registered one quarterback hit.

· Buccaneers safety Marcus Banks is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.

· Buccaneers outside linebacker Chris Braswell made one tackle in his NFL debut. Braswell joined Tampa Bay in the second round of the NFL Draft on April 26.

· Commanders defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis made one tackle.

· Daron Payne (Shades Valley) started at defensive tackle for the Commanders. Payne made one tackle.

· Brian Robinson Jr. (Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa) started at running back for the Commanders. Robinson ran for 40 yards and one touchdown on 12 carries and caught three passes for 49 yards. Robinson scored on a 7-yard run as Washington cut Tampa Bay’s lead to 13-7 with 7:17 left in the first half.

Week 1 started on Thursday night, when the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Baltimore Ravens 27-20. On Friday night in Brazil, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Green Bay Packers 34-29.

EAGLES QUARTERBACK JALEN HURTS: ‘WE WEATHERED THE STORM AS A TEAM’

Week 1 concludes on Monday, when the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers square off at 7:15 p.m. CDT at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 will televise the game.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.

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Alabama

Prevention Day at the Capitol highlights systems in place that are reducing substance misuse, overdose deaths

Published

3 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Press Room

Prevention Day at the Capitol highlights systems in place that are reducing substance misuse, overdose deaths

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – Wednesday is “Prevention Day” at the state Capitol, an effort to continue drops in substance abuse in Alabama.

The day is dedicated to raising awareness about the work and the systems in place to prevent more people from using and becoming addicted to controlled substances.

For the second year in a row, prevention professionals from across Alabama will connect at the Capitol to hear inspiring stories from young people, community partners, and those in the field of prevention. The group will also meet with lawmakers to share priorities, and feature young people leading prevention efforts in their schools.

Prevention Day at the Capitol starts at 9 a.m.

Not reading this story on the WSFA News App? Get news alerts FASTER and FREE in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store!

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Alabama

What to know about the Alabama man granted clemency two days before his execution

Published

16 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

What to know about the Alabama man granted clemency two days before his execution

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday granted clemency to a man on death row who was scheduled to be executed Thursday even though he did not personally kill anyone.

Ivey commuted Charles “Sonny” Burton’s death sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Burton, 75, was convicted of capital murder for the shooting death of Doug Battle during a 1991 robbery. Another man, Derrick DeBruce, shot Battle after Burton had left the building.

The 1991 murder and legal proceedings

The shooting occurred Aug. 16, 1991, during a robbery at an AutoZone auto parts store in Talladega. Doug Battle, a 34-year-old Army veteran and father of four, was shot and killed after entering the store during the robbery.

Before they went inside, Burton said if anyone caused trouble in the store that he would “take care of it,” according to testimony.

As the robbery was ending, Battle entered the store. He threw his wallet down, got onto the floor and exchanged words with DeBruce. LaJuan McCants, who was 16 at the time, testified that Burton and others had left the store before DeBruce shot Battle in the back.

A jury convicted DeBruce and Burton of capital murder and both were sentenced to death. During closing arguments, a prosecutor argued Burton was “just as guilty as Derrick DeBruce, because he’s there to aid and assist him.” Prosecutors pointed to the statement about handling trouble as evidence that Burton was the robbery leader. Burton’s attorneys have disputed that he was the leader.

DeBruce had his death sentence overturned on appeal after a court agreed that he had ineffective counsel. DeBruce was resentenced to life imprisonment and later died in prison.

Ivey’s reasons for granting clemency

Ivey said she “cannot proceed in good conscience with the execution of Mr. Burton” when the triggerman had his sentence reduced to life imprisonment.

“I believe it would be unjust for one participant in this crime to be executed while the participant who pulled the trigger was not,” Ivey said in a statement. “To be clear, Mr. Burton will not be eligible for parole and will rightfully spend the remainder of his life behind bars for his role in the robbery that led to the murder of Doug Battle. He will now receive the same punishment as the triggerman.”

It is only the second time the Republican governor, who has presided over 25 executions, has granted clemency to a person on death row.

“The murder of Doug Battle was a senseless and tragic crime, and this decision does not diminish the profound loss felt by the Battle family. I pray that they may find peace and closure,” Ivey said.

A mix of praise and criticism

The governor’s decision drew a mix of praise and criticism.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said he was “deeply disappointed” in the action and said he believes Burton’s execution should have gone forward. Marshall said Burton organized the armed robbery that led to Battle’s death. He said “longstanding Alabama law recognizes accomplice liability, as has every judge that has touched this case over three decades.”

“There has never been any doubt that Sonny Burton has Douglas Battle’s blood on his hands,” Marshall said.

Alice Marie Johnson, whom President Donald Trump had tapped last year as his “pardon czar,” praised Ivey. She said the governor “showed what courageous and common sense leadership looks like.”

“By commuting the death sentence of Charles “Sonny” Burton, she ensured that justice — not technicalities — guides the most serious decision a state can make,” Johnson wrote on social media.

Other Republican governors have granted clemency where there were concerns the person scheduled to be executed was the less culpable defendant. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt last year commuted the sentence of Tremane Wood to life, matching the sentence of his brother who confessed to the murder.

What happens next

Burton will be moved off of Alabama’s death row, where he has been imprisoned since 1992. However, it is unclear when that will happen. A spokesperson for the Alabama Department of Corrections did not immediately return an email seeking comment.

Burton will spend the rest of his life in prison since he doesn’t have the possibility of parole.

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New Alabama football coach Adrian Klemm faces massive task | Goodbread

Published

1 day ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

New Alabama football coach Adrian Klemm faces massive task | Goodbread

Adrian Klemm, meet the challenge of a career.

Alabama football’s first-year offensive line coach is one of three new faces at Kalen DeBoer’s conference table. And, next year, history says there might be three more. At the major college level, heavy turnover among assistant coaches is business as usual. But make no mistake; Klemm was DeBoer’s most important hire of the offseason. He might well be the most important hire DeBoer has made in his 26 months on the job.

That’s the magnitude of the mess that Alabama’s 2025 offensive line left behind.

The Crimson Tide’s 2025 rushing attack was an insult to the word attack. It was more like a rushing surrender; ranked 123rd out of 134 FBS teams, and 15th of 16 SEC teams, at 104.1 yards per game. Rock bottom came in the SEC Championship Game, when Georgia sent it backward for minus-3 yards. It’s frankly remarkable that quarterback Ty Simpson assembled a 28-5 TD-INT ratio, as a first-year starter no less, with virtually zero help from a ground game. And while we’re on the subject of the passing game, Simpson wasn’t very well-protected, either. At 2.13 sacks allowed per game, UA ranked 90th in the country.

If Klemm even bothered to watch film of last year’s offensive line, he had to do it with one eye closed.

UA tried all sorts of combinations up front, looking for a solution to what was plainly its biggest problem. In 45 years paying attention to college football, I never saw so many substitutions on an offensive line as Alabama made in 2025. Backups got every chance that could have asked for. On one hand, it was understandable that now-fired offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic refused to stay with a failing five all season.

But it also smacked of desperation.

In the end, it was clear that no combination was effective; the first-team unit Kapilovic finally settled on late in the season was the one that got manhandled by Georgia in Atlanta.

It was a shock to the system for Alabama fans, who know what a dominant run game looks like whether they’re young or old. Jam Miller led Alabama with 504 rushing yards on the season; former UA star Derrick Henry once ran for 557 in a three-game stretch against Tennessee, LSU and Mississippi State.

Miller, of course, is no Henry. But the gap between those two is no bigger than the gap between Henry’s 2015 offensive line and the disastrous line that took the field a decade later.

Klemm is tasked with turning that mess around in a single offseason, with only one returning part-time starter in sophomore Michael Carroll, a promising cornerstone to be sure. But an offensive line is only as strong as its weakest link, and Klemm must find four links to line up beside Carroll. A collection of returning backups, transfers and incoming freshmen have a lot of improvements to make, along with a strong impression on a new position coach.

With spring practice underway, that process has begun in earnest.

And Klemm faces a taller task than any assistant on the practice field.

Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23. Reach him at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X.com @chasegoodbread.

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