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What looked to be a regular tackle in Starkville, Mississippi has sent major shockwaves into the NFL Draft landscape.
In the second quarter of Alabama’s game against Mississippi State, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa left the game with what is now being called a hip fracture. Tagovailoa was carted off the field and his 2019 season surely looks to be over.
"He was screaming in pain as medical training staff had to pick him up and carry him off the cart." @MollyAMcGrath said the first report is that Tua Tagovailoa suffered an injury to his right hip vs. Mississippi State. pic.twitter.com/ppMJykMq9N
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 16, 2019
Not only does this potentially damage his draft prospects, an injury like this could derail his career altogether.
It’s important to note that a hip fracture is essentially the career-ending injury that Bo Jackson suffered at the hands of the Bengals nearly 30 years ago.
Hearing Tua Tagovailoa’s hip injury is serious. Hip fracture. Similar to Bo Jackson’s career-ending injury. Surgery tonight or tomorrow morning. Praying for Tua and his family.
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) November 16, 2019
Tagovailoa just returned to the field last week after having surgery on his right ankle. He previously had ankle issues towards the end of last season.
To make matters even worse, Tagovailoa was originally set to be taken out of the game before the drive in which he got hurt, but wanted to stay in.
Man, this is crazy. Nick Saban was going to take Tua Tagovailoa out before this possession. Tua talked him into letting him get one more drive, and now he's being attended to by Alabama training staff after getting hurt. Very unfortunate.
— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) November 16, 2019
The fallout of this injury transcends just the draft. Tagovailoa was seen as one the top prospects in this entire class and his NFL career might be in jeopardy before it even began.
For the Bengals, and other teams at the top of the current draft order targeting a quarterback, the next five months of Tagovailoa’s recovery becomes crucial. And here’s to hoping he makes a full recovery.