Tua Tagovailoa expected to be available for playoff despite sprained ankle
Tua Tagovailoa is expected to be available for the College Football Playoff despite suffering a sprained ankle in the SEC Championship Game against Georgia on Saturday.
Alabama head coach Nick Saban spoke with the media after his team’s 35-28 comeback win over the Bulldogs and said that Tagovailoa sprained his ankle in the first half. He said he did not think the injury would keep the Heisman Trophy contender out of the playoffs.
Saban: “Tua actually sprained his ankle in the first half. I don’t think it’s something that will keep him out (of the playoff)”
— Cecil Hurt (@CecilHurt) December 2, 2018
Tagovailoa was beat up in the game. He injured his left ankle on a sack in the first quarter. Then he injured his right ankle in the fourth quarter and had to be helped off the field.
Tagovailoa’s injuries led Jalen Hurts to enter the game, and the junior QB won the game for Bama with two touchdown drives. Hurts would start if Tagovailoa is not healed in time for the semifinal game on Dec. 29. If both are available, it would be hard for Saban to start Hurts over Tagovailoa given how well Tua played for 12 of the team’s 13 games.
