COLLEGE STATION, TX - OCTOBER 07: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on during pre-game warmups before playing the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field on October 7, 2017 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Standout Alabama defender done for the season after suffering Sugar Bowl injury

This could be a game changer.

The Alabama Crimson Tide enter Monday's National Championship matchup against the Georgia Bulldogs as a (slight) Las Vegas favorite, but Nick Saban's team will now be dealing with a key injury absence.

On Wednesday morning, standout linebacker Anfernee Jennings announced that he would miss the remainder of the year (headlined by the title game, of course) with a knee ailment.

Jennings went down with a knee sprain during Alabama's lopsided victory over Clemson and he did not finish the game for the Crimson Tide. With that said, the game was fully in hand before Jennings exited and Saban's defense is already operating without both Shaun Dion Hamilton and Dylan Moses at the linebacker spot.

Prior to the injury, Jennings produced three tackles for loss and a sack against the Tigers and he was certainly an impact player over the course of that match-up.

It is fair to point out that Alabama's defensive depth is off the charts when compared to most programs but, in the same breath, losing three top-tier players in one position group can't be overlooked and, against the explosive Georgia running game, this is an area in which precision is quite important.

Saban and his crew will have a week to game plan around Jennings' absence but this will be something to closely monitor.