Alabama starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, a leading Heisman candidate who's engineering one of the most powerful offenses in America for the No. 1 team, gave fans and coaches a scare Saturday night against Missouri when he went down with a knee injury.
After breaking for a nine-yard run early in the second half of Alabama's home game, Tagovailoa slid to avoid contact, but he grabbed the back of his knee after the play. He walked off the field on his own, but went immediately into the Crimson Tide's sideline medical tent, spending 20 minutes there, raising anxiety among fans in the stadium and watching on TV about injury severity.
Tagovailoa did not return to the game, which Alabama won 39-10.
Alabama's quarterback has been dealing with a knee sprain on the same leg he grabbed after the third-quarter slide, which took him out of the game. Tagovailoa had slightly sprained his right knee last week against Arkansas but he did not miss any practice time before the Missouri game because of it.
But there's apparently good news for Alabama fans and coaches: Tua Tagovailoa is going to be okay, according to the latest reports after the game Saturday night. Alabama head coach Nick Saban told reporters that it was his impression Tagovailoa will be okay, able to play moving forward, according to al.com.
"We don't think there's any issues or problems with it," Saban said, referring to the quarterback's knee.
Saban suggested that Tagovailoa could have re-entered the Missouri game last night and wanted to, but that coaches did not see the advantage of putting him back in. Alabama, at 6-0, has the third-best total offense ranking in America so far this season, averaging 567 yards per game. Tagovailoa has started all six games, though he has shared some time with former starter Jalen Hurts.
From Hawaii, Tagovailoa has been a star at Alabama since he entered last season's national championship game against Georgia in the second half, with the Crimson Tide losing. Hurts had been the starter for two seasons, but Saban felt the offense needed a jolt and a better passing attack.
Tagovailoa led Alabama to the comeback win, claiming the national championship. The job has belonged to him since and he has not disappointed, emerging as a leading Heisman contender and powering what some have suggested is one of the greatest offenses in college football history.
In other Alabama injury updates, Crimson Tide wide receivers Henry Ruggs III and DeVonta Smith suffered apparent leg injuries. Smith didn't return in the second half, while Ruggs appeared to have his right leg twisted by a Missouri defender on a tackle, but he returned to the game.
Smith pulled a muscle, Saban said, and could be questionable against Tennessee, the AP reported.
Alabama's next game is next Saturday at Tennessee, which upset Auburn on Saturday. The Alabama vs. Tennessee game is slated for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff on CBS.
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