Heisman contender Tua Tagovailoa carted off with hip injury

Posted By: Staff
November 16, 2019 @ 3:16 pm
ABC Sports

Photo by Phil Ellsworth / ESPN Images(TUSCALOOSA, Ala.) — Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was carted off the field after suffering an apparent hip injury during Saturday’s game against Mississippi State. He was later airlifted to Birmingham for CAT scans and MRIs.

A source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that there was concern before the end of the game that it was a “very serious” injury.

With three minutes left in the first half, Tagovailoa was taken down by a pair of MSU defenders. He was unable to put pressure on his right leg as trainers helped him to his feet.

He also suffered a bloody nose on the play.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban told ESPN’s Molly McGrath that Tagovailoa was set to come out of the game following that drive. Saban had kept him in the game to practice a two-minute drill.

Alabam was leading 35-7 at the time.

“We’ve got to block them better so he doesn’t get sacked,” Saban added. “It’s too bad.”

McGrath reported that Tagovailoa was screaming in pain as he was lifted onto the cart.

Saban later called the injury “probably something that could be serious.”

Tagovailoa was considered a serious contender for the Heisman Trophy this season, and could be a top-10 pick in next year’s NFL Draft. Earlier this year he missed one game after undergoing surgery on an ankle injury.