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Alabama starting defensive end Raekwon Davis is playing in the Crimson Tide’s game against Florida State on Saturday night (ABC, WatchESPN). That’s notable because Davis suffered what police described as a minor gunshot wound less than a week ago.
Davis, 20, was shot in the right leg early last Sunday morning. Days later, he did this in the third quarter:
"Our concern at this time is for Raekwon and his health," Alabama coach Nick Saban said in a statement afterward. "While this does not appear to be a serious medical situation, Raekwon is still being evaluated."
As the game week’s gone on, Davis’ status has been a popular question. A sophomore, he tops Bama’s depth chart at one of the two defensive end spots, opposite Da’Shawn Hand on the other side of the line. Hand is playing a couple of weeks after an arrest for a DUI, largely because he wasn’t actually driving when officers found him.
Davis is from Meridian, Miss., and was a four-star recruit in the class of 2016. The 247Sports Composite pegged him as the No. 88 overall player in the country.
He’s a key part of Alabama’s plans this year, after the Tide sent a lot of defensive front talent to the NFL.
If Raekwon Davis plays tonight, he’ll be the 2nd Alabama player in 8 years to suffer gunshot wound shortly before 1st game & play.
— Creg Stephenson (@CregStephenson) September 2, 2017
In 2009, Bama defensive end Brandon Deaderick returned from such an injury to record a tackle against Virginia Tech.