Tua Tagovailoa Suffers Serious Hip Injury

sodenj5

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
6,619
CT
Wasn’t sure where to discuss this, whether it be the NFL forum or this forum, however it probably warrants its own thread.

Tua suffered a hip dislocation and fracture this afternoon versus Mississippi State at the end of the first half. Initial reports were that the injury had the potential to be very similar to the one that ended Bo Jackson’s career.

Alabama’s orthopedic just released a statement that appears to be optimistic:

View: https://twitter.com/theathleticcfb/status/1195869340635213825?s=21


From what I understand, the reducing of the hip ASAP was and is critical to avoid a Bo Jackson scenario. Obviously still a major injury, however doesn’t appear to be career threatening and Tua should be able to resume playing football next year.

This opens several avenues of discussion:

Why was Tua playing versus Mississippi State at all? He clearly played hurt vs LSU because the season was on the line.

Why was he playing up 31 points going into the half? Saban said Tua wanted to run the 2 minute offense so he left him in the game.

Is Tua fragile? This is obviously the most significant injury he has suffered, but he also suffered high ankle sprains in back to back years. Could be a fluke or he might actually be fragile.
 

mauf

Anderson Cooper × Mr. Rogers
Moderator
SoSH Member
I was not supportive of the decision to play Tua last week or this week. From what I’ve read, it sounds like he should’ve shut it down and focused on getting ready for the draft.

That said, I can’t imagine Tua’s ankle had any bearing on his hip injury today. Just a freak thing.
 

Philip Jeff Frye

Member
SoSH Member
Oct 23, 2001
10,229
Do the injuries impact his draft standing (assuming he's "healthy"). If he can't survive a college football season, what's going to happen in the NFL?
 

sodenj5

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
6,619
CT
Do the injuries impact his draft standing (assuming he's "healthy"). If he can't survive a college football season, what's going to happen in the NFL?
I think it has to be at the very least a legitimate concern.

If you’re looking at Joe Burrow vs Tua and they were nearly neck and neck before, you have to give the edge to Burrow based on the fact that he has a cleaner bill of health. Tua’s next 6 months are going to be about getting healthy and proving to NFL GMs that he can resume playing in 2020. I think if the doctors give him the all clear, he is still a first round QB. If he is going to need extended time off into 2020 or potentially miss 2020 entirely, then it starts to get dicey.

You can also make the case that all 3 injuries are relatively fluky. High ankle sprains can happen to anyone regardless of build. Saquon Barkley suffered one this season and he’s built like a truck.

The hip injury also appears fluky and not something that you can tie back to the ankles or Tua being smaller in size. He doesn’t have a history of things like soft tissue strains, so it looks like more bad luck than anything.
 

lexrageorge

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2007
18,096
Didn't Roosevelt Colvin have a similar injury a couple of games into his Pats tenure?

Injuries like that are indeed flukes and not at all predictable. But he will be labeled an injury risk, and would likely miss or be very limited at mini-camp.
 

BigMike

Moderator
Moderator
SoSH Member
Sep 26, 2000
23,244
The injuries are a fluke, but the problem with Tua is the injury is that it is rare and very serious, and at least seems like it could be a lingering problem. . And I would think it is very unlikely he will be 100% healthy and able to show it off by draft time.

As opposed to something like an ACL injury which is so common, that the league no doubt has pretty strong understanding of long term impact.

He might even have to consider returning for a senior year
 

Red Averages

owes you $50
SoSH Member
Apr 20, 2003
9,055
I know people are mad at Saban (for not benching his QB in the 2nd quarter?!), and other things. But really this is just a horrible circumstance for Tua and further proof that the NCAA screws over young atheletes in their prime. If Tua could have gone pro previously and guaranteed him/his family tens of millions of dollars we are in a situation where we feel bad about the player and not the person. Now we’re left hoping he had insurance or a medical improvement since Bo. Awful.
 

axx

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
8,126
He might even have to consider returning for a senior year
Because of the threat of the lockout I have to think he will still declare unless he thinks he would fall very far in the draft. I wouldn't rule it out though.
 

DukeSox

absence hasn't made the heart grow fonder
SoSH Member
Dec 22, 2005
11,742
Weird injury it didn’t even look like the defensive players fell on his hip - announcer were speculating head or ankle live. Odd.
 

leftfieldlegacy

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2005
1,005
North Jersey
Weird injury it didn’t even look like the defensive players fell on his hip - announcer were speculating head or ankle live. Odd.
EDIT: This video provides a better description of Tua's injury than did my original post. The video also includes a comparison to Bo Jackson's injury.
 
Last edited:

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
SoSH Member
Oct 1, 2015
24,375
So let's say you're NE and his stock drops all the way to the end of the first round. Do you take a chance and draft him there? Obviously we don't know how serious it is right now, etc. But based on what we know now....would you take him at, say, #30-32?
 

dcmissle

Deflatigator
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 4, 2005
28,269
Didn't Roosevelt Colvin have a similar injury a couple of games into his Pats tenure?

Injuries like that are indeed flukes and not at all predictable. But he will be labeled an injury risk, and would likely miss or be very limited at mini-camp.
And if memory serves. Colvin was never the same.

Tua is going to fall in the draft because of all of this, but all it takes is one team. Hopefully, that will not be the Patriots.
 

lexrageorge

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2007
18,096
I know people are mad at Saban (for not benching his QB in the 2nd quarter?!), and other things. But really this is just a horrible circumstance for Tua and further proof that the NCAA screws over young atheletes in their prime. If Tua could have gone pro previously and guaranteed him/his family tens of millions of dollars we are in a situation where we feel bad about the player and not the person. Now we’re left hoping he had insurance or a medical improvement since Bo. Awful.
The NFL mandates that a player must be out of high school for at least 3 years before being eligible to play, and that seems unlikely to ever change. So the NCAA is not at sole fault for the system as it is today.

And if memory serves. Colvin was never the same.

Tua is going to fall in the draft because of all of this, but all it takes is one team. Hopefully, that will not be the Patriots.
Why not the Pats? He's likely headed to the NFI for the 2020 season, but it could be a smart long term play for the team.

More seriously, it took Colvin a couple of years, but he did return to be an effective player at a position where lateral movement is fairly critical. His career was eventually ended by a broken foot, which was one of the more "under the radar" injuries that afflicted the 2007 team down the stretch.
 

dcmissle

Deflatigator
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 4, 2005
28,269
The NFL mandates that a player must be out of high school for at least 3 years before being eligible to play, and that seems unlikely to ever change. So the NCAA is not at sole fault for the system as it is today.


Why not the Pats? He's likely headed to the NFI for the 2020 season, but it could be a smart long term play for the team.

More seriously, it took Colvin a couple of years, but he did return to be an effective player at a position where lateral movement is fairly critical. His career was eventually ended by a broken foot, which was one of the more "under the radar" injuries that afflicted the 2007 team down the stretch.
Effective, but never his old Bears explosive self. And that kind of matters with Tua and his skill set.

I will admit my aversion is heavily colored by being sick and fucking tired of the Isaiah Wynns and N’Keal Harrys. It is a knee jerk reaction. These are positions of great need and time is a wasting.
 

sodenj5

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
6,619
CT
Have to think there’s a near zero chance he goes back to Alabama for his senior season unless people start projecting him to go in the third round.

I still would be stunned if he falls outside of the top 10 unless doctors start saying he’s going to have AVN (Bo Jackson’s problem) or he’s going to have to sit out a full season. His game and ability are still impeccable, and even if he loses half a step of quickness, his game isn’t heavily reliant on scrambling. He has good mobility, but his greatest strength is passing from the pocket.
 

Lose Remerswaal

Experiencing Furry Panic
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
This opens several avenues of discussion:

Why was Tua playing versus Mississippi State at all? He clearly played hurt vs LSU because the season was on the line.

Why was he playing up 31 points going into the half? Saban said Tua wanted to run the 2 minute offense so he left him in the game.

Is Tua fragile? This is obviously the most significant injury he has suffered, but he also suffered high ankle sprains in back to back years. Could be a fluke or he might actually be fragile.
I know people are mad at Saban (for not benching his QB in the 2nd quarter?!), and other things. But really this is just a horrible circumstance for Tua and further proof that the NCAA screws over young atheletes in their prime. If Tua could have gone pro previously and guaranteed him/his family tens of millions of dollars we are in a situation where we feel bad about the player and not the person. Now we’re left hoping he had insurance or a medical improvement since Bo. Awful.
Agree with R.A. Has a coach ever pulled a starter in the first half "only" up 31 points? After Alabama lost last week, they need to win out and win big where possible to get as high a ranking as possible.
 

mikeot

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 22, 2006
8,147

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
53,840
Yahoo Sports story tonight about Tua, with unnamed "NFL executive" saying he's going to drop, possibly to end of first round.
 

DukeSox

absence hasn't made the heart grow fonder
SoSH Member
Dec 22, 2005
11,742
Yahoo Sports story tonight about Tua, with unnamed "NFL executive" saying he's going to drop, possibly to end of first round.
Well, this proves there's at least one team that wants to draft him in the middle of the first round
 

Average Reds

Member
SoSH Member
Sep 24, 2007
35,330
Southwestern CT
Agree with R.A. Has a coach ever pulled a starter in the first half "only" up 31 points? After Alabama lost last week, they need to win out and win big where possible to get as high a ranking as possible.
In the abstract? Absolutely not. You play the best players through the first half, at the very least.

When dealing with a star QB who is alteady slightly hobbled with injury? There is absolutely an argument that he should be pulled once it’s clear that the game was under control.

Speaking only for myself, the criticism of Saban had more to do with the fact that he’s a soulless robot who seemed far more upset that he didn’t get to practice his two-minute drill than any injury to his star player. And yeah, I get it - he gets paid to win, not to give a damn about his players.
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
53,840
Well, this proves there's at least one team that wants to draft him in the middle of the first round
Yeah...he'll be rumored to "slide" to the mid-20s and then he'll "rise" back up into mid-first. And then right before the draft we'll hear that he's healing nicely and he's back in mix at top of round.
 

sodenj5

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
6,619
CT
We don’t know the exact details but piecing together what has come out it sounds like the following:

It seems the report of a fracture for Tua may have been incorrect. Saban said CJ Mosley and Tua had the exact same injury. Mosley dislocated his hip but did not fracture anything.

Also, because his surgery was delayed a few days and not an emergency surgery the same day, it seems like Tua’s long term prognosis is very good. Means because they were able to reduce his hip at the stadium, he likely won’t be looking at a long term, degenerative issue like Bo Jackson.

View: https://twitter.com/laurarutledge/status/1196504703951134722?s=21


View: https://twitter.com/rapsheet/status/1196489352706240515?s=21


I was reading that he’s likely to be cleared to resume physical activities in 3-4 months and can likely be cleared for football in 8 months or so assuming all goes well.
 

sodenj5

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
6,619
CT
Francesa speaks to Dr Steve O'Brien about the injury.

Dr O'Brien says it will take 2 years for a full recovery.
I suppose that “being cleared for football” and actually resuming your playing career might be two different timelines. Definitely the possibility that he misses time next season still exists.

I think any team that drafts him has to anticipate him at the very least being limited throughout training camp and into the start of next season. I think if Miami were to draft him, they can start the year with Fitz or Rosen, give Tua whatever timeline he needs to recover, and work him in once he’s ready.
 

mauf

Anderson Cooper × Mr. Rogers
Moderator
SoSH Member
I suppose that “being cleared for football” and actually resuming your playing career might be two different timelines. Definitely the possibility that he misses time next season still exists.

I think any team that drafts him has to anticipate him at the very least being limited throughout training camp and into the start of next season. I think if Miami were to draft him, they can start the year with Fitz or Rosen, give Tua whatever timeline he needs to recover, and work him in once he’s ready.
Between the success that Mahomes has had after seeing basically no action his rookie year, the way Goff has blossomed into a solid starting QB after an atrocious rookie year, and the struggles of Mayfield after an impressive rookie campaign, you would think teams would recognize that Tua’s ability to play as a rookie isn’t that important, at least if he’s well enough to take practice reps (where QBs generally don’t get hit).

Of course, a lot of NFL franchises aren’t sufficiently long-term focused to spend a 1st round pick on a player who won’t play as a rookie, but enough teams are that I don’t think Tua will slide as far as some people are expecting. (I’d love to see him fall to New England, but that’s not happening unless the medical reports we’re hearing now prove to be far too optimistic.)