TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama linebacker Christian Miller suffered a hamstring injury during the Crimson Tide’s Orange Bowl semifinal win over Oklahoma on Saturday. The redshirt senior had to be helped off the field and was on crutches in the locker room after the 45-34 win.

On Tuesday, the first day of on-field prep for the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, head coach Nick Saban appeared on ESPN. And Saban updated Miller’s status after an MRI.

“I think it’s questionable at this point as to whether he’s going to be able to recover quickly enough to be able to contribute in the game,” Saban said during an interview on College GameDay. “But we’ll just have to sort of take it day-by-day and see how he responds.”

Miller couldn’t put pressure on his left leg as he was helped to the locker room, where he was joined by his father. He was seen on crutches in the Miami Dolphins locker room during the 20-minute interview window. Before exiting the game, Miller registered a critical third-down sack.

When he left the game, Miller was replaced by redshirt senior linebacker Jamey Mosley.

Saban is taking a wait-and-see approach on Miller’s hamstring, but multiple reports indicate the MRI the pass-rushing specialist underwent showed he suffered a pulled hamstring instead of a tear.

Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams admitted he hasn’t seen Miller at the Mal M. Moore Athletic Facility this week, but he thinks the linebacker “should be OK, he should be back.”

“I’m just praying that he’ll get healthy,” Williams said.

Alabama linebacker Christian Miller

Inside linebacker Mack Wilson added: “He’s been doing great. I feel like he’s a guy that doesn’t get enough recognition, and I feel like he’s very hard to block coming off the edge. He makes a lot of plays for us, he makes a lot of sacks and I feel like he plays a big role on the defense. He’s a great leader. Some of the guys like me look up to him, and I feel like he plays a big role. Everybody admires Christian’s hard work and the things that he did for this program.

“So, I hope he’ll be able to come back to play his last game at the university.”

On the season, Miller has totaled 36 tackles, including 11.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks with a team-high 12 quarterback hurries. He has also contributed one pass breakup and a fumble recovery.

Alabama is already without two outside linebackers in Terrell Lewis (ACL) and Christopher Allen (ACL), both of whom Saban ruled out for the Orange Bowl earlier in the week. Lewis was in street clothes before the game, while Allen dressed out during the Tide’s pregame warmups.

If Miller can’t go, players like Mosley, Eyabi Anoma and others will have to step up this week.

“It’s important,” Wilson said when asked about the Crimson Tide’s young linebackers. “I feel like they’ve been doing a good job of that all year with guys that are behind Christian. I wouldn’t doubt the next guy coming in, we wouldn’t miss a beat. It’s all about us just making sure that all the young guys are really locked in this week because anything can happen in this last game.”

No. 1 Alabama (14-0, 8-0 SEC) and No. 2 Clemson (14-0, 8-0 ACC) will face off in the CFP National Championship Game on Monday, Jan. 7, at Levi’s Stadium at Santa Clara, Calif. The Crimson Tide will hold its first practice before the title game this afternoon at 3:40 p.m. CT.

Contact Charlie Potter by 247Sports' personal messaging or on Twitter (@Charlie_Potter).

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