Alabama and LSU are set to square off on Saturday in one of the most highly anticipated games of the season, and Heisman Trophy candidate Tua Tagovailoa is trending toward making his return from an ankle injury.
Nick Saban said on Monday that Tagovailoa will be a game-time decision, but Matt Zenitz of AL.com reports that the junior is expected to play. Tagovailoa’s rehab from an ankle injury has supposedly gone quite well, and Zenitz adds that he could “look healthier and less limited than what most outsiders are probably expecting.”
The bye week came at a seemingly perfect time for Alabama, with Tagovailoa getting an extra week to rest his surgically repaired ankle. He suffered the injury in Alabama’s win over Tennessee on Oct. 19, and he has reportedly been recovering better than expected.
Tagovailoa has 27 touchdowns compared to just two interceptions on the season, and he and LSU quarterback Joe Burrow are considered two of the top three favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. Saturday’s game could go a long way toward determining who will take home the hardware, and it will have a big impact on the College Football Playoff picture. It would be a shame for fans if Tagovailoa could not play.