Everyone has suddenly become a doctor, when it comes to Tua Tagovailoa and his ankle for Saturday’s meeting between Alabama and LSU at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Gary Danielson, former college and NFL quarterback, joined Peter Burns and Chris Doering of SEC Network on “SEC This Morning” via College Sports on SiriusXM to give his thoughts on the matchup.
RELATED: ESPN personality says LSU will defeat Alabama, whether Tagovailoa plays or not
The color analyst for CBS Sports is not fully sold that Alabama will have Tagovailoa at full health against the Tigers. The junior quarterback has practiced all week and for the most part, showed he can move, bend and push around on his right ankle.
He had the tightrope procedure done following an injury against Tennessee and did not play versus Arkansas.
As one of the big names in the Heisman race, Tagovailoa assured his teammates that he would play this weekend.
Two National Title Contenders.
Two Elite QBs.
Two Healthy QBs? @CBSSports analyst Gary Danielson tells @PeterBurnsESPN and @ChrisDoering he isn’t sold that we’re going to see a fully healthy version of Tua Tagovailoa on Saturday. #RollTide #GeauxTigers pic.twitter.com/hvoOqupJgr— College Sports on SiriusXM (@SXMCollege) November 8, 2019
“I watched him practice yesterday. He is not 100 percent,” Danielson said. “I don’t care what Alabama says. I don’t care what Tua says. I watched him; he does not have that spring in his step. It is not natural. He’s okay. I’d be playing if I were him, but he’s not Tua that started the season. He is not as nimble as I have watched him before. So, how do those body blows or ankle blows, how does that set up the football game in the third or fourth quarter? I wonder if anybody has even touched his ankle, let alone hit his ankle in the way he’s going to get hit in this game.”
Alabama’s offensive line will need a masterful performance and Tagovailoa will need to be aware of pressure from all ends, but he is ready for this game. From the eyes of yours truly, he had a slight limp at times yet nothing too severe throughout practice. CBS will have the call on Saturday at 2:30 p.m., and Tagovailoa can show the national audience that he is more than ok.
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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.
