Laura Chramer
Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) leaves the field during the first half of the Tennessee-Alabama game on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, at Bryant-Denny Stadium on the UA campus in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Photo by Laura Chramer)
Tua Tagovailoa doesn’t have to play.
That’s not what anyone wants to hear right now with the latest “Game of the Century” between Alabama and LSU already in overhype mode and still two Saturdays away. Like everyone else, I want to see Tua vs. LSU’s Joe Burrow. Resting Alabama’s injured star quarterback might be the better decision, though.
It’s something to consider, and we’re going to have a long time to consider things with the game still so far away.
Should Tua play in a football game that Alabama doesn’t even have to win less than three weeks after having surgery on his ankle? It’s risky for a couple reasons, and it’s also unnecessary.
Give him a good month and a half. Make sure he is perfect for the Iron Bowl, or as close to perfect as he can be after injuring his ankle against Tennessee. The College Football Playoff committee isn’t going to keep one-loss Alabama out of the postseason based on a loss to No.1 LSU that came without Tua at quarterback.
Before speaking to Birmingham’s Monday Morning Quarterback Club, Alabama coach Nick Saban answered a few questions from reporters and said he “doesn’t have a crystal ball” to answer hypothetical questions about whether his injured quarterback will play. He got a little *****ly, of course. It’s delicate subject material.
He wants his players to rest mentally and physically this week, and then get down to business with preparation for LSU beginning on Thursday.
According to Saban, Tua is expected to start going through the motions of practice on Wednesday despite his recent surgery. Does Saban have a cut-off date when he must decide between playing Tua against LSU, or backup quarterback Mac Jones?
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Personally I wouldn't put much stock in that at all.
There's still the Iron Bowl to consider also.