Alabama Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa Has Ankle Surgery

Nick Saban releases statement after Sunday procedure to repair high-ankle sprain

T.G. Paschal/BamaCentral

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — University of Alabama junior quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had a surgical procedure to repair his injured ankle on Sunday morning. 

He'll miss next week's game against Arkansas, but could possibly be ready to  play against LSU on Nov. 9. The Crimson Tide has a bye in between the two games against SEC opponents.

Nick Saban issued the following statement: "Tua Tagovailoa suffered a high-ankle sprain last night against Tennessee. Our physicians performed a successful tight-rope procedure on his right ankle this morning. This is the same injury, but the opposite ankle that Tua injured last season. Tua will miss next week’s game against Arkansas, but we expect a full and speedy recovery.”

Tagovailoa suffered the injury during the second quarter of the Crimson Tide's 35-13 victory over the Volunteers on Saturday night. 

He was 11-of-12 for 155 yards and an interception before the injury. Tagovailoa was replaced by Mac Jones, who finished 6-of-11 for 72 yards. 

The recovery timetable is a familiar one for Alabama fans, at this time of the season, too.  In 2014, left tackle Cam Robinson had a similar injury and was able to return to face LSU at Tiger Stadium.  

Tagovailoa's previous procedure was after the SEC Championship Game against Georgia. He was subsequently able to start against Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl in just under a month.

“He said, ‘I’ll be back for LSU,’” Lewis said. “I know how Tua is. It’s something he’s been through before, so I don’t doubt the fact that he’s a competitor. He’s going to get right back, and he’ll be fine.”

For the season, Tagovailoa is 145-for-194 (77.74 percent) for 2,166 yards, with 27 touchdowns and two interceptions. 

The Tennessee was the first of his career in which Tagovailoa didn't have a touchdown pass in a game he started.