High ankle sprain forces Tua out of Alabama win

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The right ankle injury that knocked Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa out of the No. 1 Crimson Tide‘s 35-13 victory over Tennessee on Saturday night likely will keep him on the sideline for next week’s home game against Arkansas, according to coach Nick Saban.

Saban called the injury a high ankle sprain in a postgame interview with ESPN’s Molly McGrath, and he said Tagovailoa will undergo another MRI to confirm.

“I think he will probably not be able to play next week,” Saban told reporters. “He’s gonna get another MRI in the morning, and then from there we’ll find out what he’s gonna do from there.”

Tagovailoa suffered the injury when Tennessee defensive tackle Greg Emerson rolled over the star quarterback’s right ankle on a 5-yard sack midway through the second quarter. Tagovailoa popped right up — on his right ankle — and completed a screen pass to running back Brian Robinson Jr. on the next play.

However, Tagovailoa left the field during a timeout with 6:03 remaining in the first half. A few minutes later, he emerged from the injury tent and walked — with a slight limp — off the field and into the locker room. He was ruled out at halftime.

Tagovailoa threw only one incompletion in his quarter and a half, going 11-for-12 for 155 yards. The sole errant pass proved costly. With a 7-0 lead and first-and-goal at the Tennessee 2, Tagovailoa scrambled wildly to the left sideline, then threw into the end zone and directly into the hands of Volunteers safety Nigel Warrior, who returned it 59 yards down the sideline. Tennessee took advantage of the field position to score its only touchdown of the night.

Alabama backup quarterback Mac Jones came in with a 21-10 lead and led the Tide on one third-quarter scoring drive, with the touchdown coming on a 6-yard pass from receiver Slade Bolden to Miller Forristall out of the Wildcat.

Jones, a redshirt sophomore, completed 6 of 11 passes for 72 yards and looked considerably more composed as the game continued.

“Mac did some good things, and we think Mac is capable,” Saban said, “so we have a lot of confidence in Mac.”

Tagovailoa’s injury is not to the same ankle he required surgery on in December after injuring it in the SEC championship game.

Alabama will host Arkansas on Saturday, then has a bye week before entertaining No. 2 LSU on Nov. 9.

According to AL.com, Alabama linebacker Terrell Lewis said Tagovailoa told teammates after Saturday’s game, “I’ll be back for LSU.”

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