His right ankle has adjusted very well from the tightrope surgery.
After he was spotted on a scooter all week in practice, sources confirmed to Touchdown Alabama Magazine that Tua Tagovailoa was walking without a boot on his right foot.
RELATED: Tua Tagovailoa’s ankle injury ‘not as serious’ as last year, per Alabama’s Nick Saban
He will wear the boot on Saturday for Alabama’s matchup against Arkansas at Bryant-Denny Stadium (precautionary reasons), but he is ahead of schedule. According to Nick Saban, the junior quarterback would have three to four days of no weights before his rehab period starts.
Tagovailoa will start his rehab next week and is expecting to return to taking snaps at practice, prior to the week of the Crimson Tide’s matchup against the Tigers.
Since his injury, Joe Burrow and Jalen Hurts have taken center stage in the Heisman conversation.
The native Hawaiian currently leads the NCAA in touchdown passes (27) and holds almost every significant passing record in school history.
He has three marquee games remaining – if Alabama makes it to the Southeastern Conference title game – to show Heisman voters he is the best in the country.
He intends to do it in two weeks, but for now he’s pushing to return to practice.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
