Getty Image / Wesley Hitt
Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa appeared to have suffered a pretty serious injury late in the first half against Mississippi State on Saturday.
With just over three minutes left in the first half, and with the Crimson Tide up 35-7, Tagovailoa took a tough shot and was rolled up on by Mississippi State defenders. He suffered not only a bloody nose, but initial reports are saying it’s a hip injury. It was significant as he was carted off the field after not being able to put any weight on his leg.
Here's what happened to Tua, got injured, carted off.pic.twitter.com/wH2LpQ0crB
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 16, 2019
Prior to going into the locker room for halftime, Saban confirmed that it is a hip issue and also explained why Tagovailoa was on the field with the Tide up 28 points. He claimed it was for ‘practice’ as he wanted to run a two-minute drill before putting in their backup quarterback.
To say Saban looks worn out and devastated is an understatement.
Nick Saban explains decision to keep Tua in the game up 35-7 "That was going to be his last series, we were going to do 2 minute before the half just for practice" pic.twitter.com/On5cVKkmlb
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) November 16, 2019
Tagovailoa entered Saturday’s contest as a game-time decision as he has battled ankle injuries for most of the year indicating he likely wasn’t 100% in Starkville.
A video now shows Tagovailoa essentially asking and talking Saban into letting him have one more drive before he went out and suffered the injury.
Here's video of Tua appearing to talk Nick Saban into keep him in the game right before injury pic.twitter.com/VdPcnRX2E8
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) November 16, 2019
On one hand, a player, even of Tua’s caliber, can never have too much practice, but to put him out there at what we can only assume short of 100% healthy in a game that’s already over is a tough scene.
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Mark is a New York City-based writer and editor at Brobible. You can follow him on Twitter @MarkAndHisWords.