Alabama is getting set to take on Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff on Saturday, and the biggest storyline leading up to the game has been the health of Tua Tagovailoa. While the star quarterback is almost certainly going to play, it’s fair to wonder if he will be experiencing some pain while doing so.
Tagovailoa was asked for an update on his ankle injury Wednesday, and he admitted it is not completely healed.
Tua says his ankle is 80-85 percent.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) December 26, 2018
Tagovailoa sprained his ankle during Alabama’s SEC Championship win over Georgia on Dec. 1. The typical timeline for recovery from a high ankle sprain can be up to two months, but the hope was that the Heisman Trophy finalist could accelerate that process by undergoing surgery. Still, it sounds like he will be less than 100 percent by Saturday.
If Tagovailoa is limited in any way, Alabama already knows it has a serviceable and experienced backup option in Jalen Hurts. Given the way Tagovailoa has played this year when hurt and the spark Hurts seemed to provide in the SEC Championship, the Crimson Tide should be just fine against Oklahoma.
