Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa left Saturday night’s game against Tennessee in the second quarter due to a right high-ankle sprain and was ruled out by the team at halftime.
Coach Nick Saban said on the ESPN broadcast at halftime that Tagovailoa had “a twisted ankle of some kind,” but did not know more. He told ESPN afterward that the quarterback will likely miss a week or two.
Tagovailoa had his legs tangled during a sack by Volunteers defensive tackle Greg Emerson, and his right foot was pinned awkwardly. Tagovailoa stayed in for a play and then came out and went to the team’s medical tent on the sideline. He then walked to the locker room with a slight limp, and videos on social media showed him walking to an ambulance to leave the stadium.
Alabama, ranked No. 1, went on to win 35-13, with Tagovailoa finishing 11 of 12 for 155 yards and an interception. Backup Mac Jones went 6 of 11 for 72 yards, and wideout Slade Bolden tossed a 6-yard touchdown on one attempt.
The Crimson Tide improved to 7-0 (4-0 SEC) with the victory. They host Arkansas next week before an open date, prior to a Nov. 9 home game against No. 2 LSU.
Tagovailoa injured both ankles — with a high-ankle sprain on the left — in the SEC Championship Game last year. He had surgery on the left ankle in order to play in the College Football Playoff.
