Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa knocked out of Tennessee game with high ankle sprain

Junior quarterback Tua Tagovailoa ruled out for second half in Third Saturday of October rivalry game

T.G. Paschal/BamaCentral

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — University of Alabama junior quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was knocked out of the game in the second quarter against Tennessee and did not return. 

Nick Saban told ESPN during the postgame interview: "He's got a high ankle sprain, so he'll probably be out a week or two."

Alabama hosts Arkansas next week and then has a bye before its showdown with visiting LSU.

Tagovailoa left shortly after taking a sack on first down at the Alabama 21-yard-line, with 7:30 remaining in the first half. He subsequently completed a screen pass to junior running back Brian Robinson Jr., for a 5-yard gain, before the Crimson Tide appeared to take a time out to avoid a delay-of-game penalty.

However, Tagovailoa went to the sideline and then straight to the medical tent behind the Crimson Tide bench.

During the next break, Tagovailoa left the tent and walked to the Alabama locker room. 

It wasn't immediately apparent what kind of injury was suffered, but Nick Saban told ESPN on his way to the locker room that he thought it might have been a "twisted ankle." 

The coach then told the Crimson Tide Radio Network: "The biggest play in the game was the first-and-2 at the 2. We throw an interception, and they end up scoring, so it's a 14-point swing and we've got total control of the game. 

"I don't know what Tua's status is. We will see when we go in at halftime. We obviously need to play better on defense too to get off the field and get better field position."

Saban confirmed to ESPN on the way back out of the locker room that Tagovailoa would not return due to a lower body injury.

Tagovailoa briefly left the stadium in an ambulance, but late in the third quarter ESPN's Molly McGrath reported that Tagovailoa was back in Alabama's locker room, out of uniform and "favoring his left leg."

Tagovailoa was replaced by reserve redshirt sophomore Mac Jones, who immediately connected on a screen pass to sophomore wide receiver Jaylen Waddle for a 13-yard gain and first down. However, the drive quickly stalled after Jones was sacked. 

Alabama was ahead 21-10 at the time. 

Tagovailoa was 11-for-12 for 155 yards with one interception. 

Meanwhile, freshman Will Reichard, who has been dealing with a hip flexor, ended up in the medical tent after Tagovailoa. He was not with the punters and kickers for the second half warmups.