There’s some positive news coming out of the Tua Tagovailoa camp.
The Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback “underwent successful surgery on his right hip Monday morning in Houston,” according to a statement released by team orthopedic surgeon Dr. Lyle Cain. Cain called Tagovailoa’s prognosis “excellent” and still believes the 21-year-old will make a full recovery.
Tagovailoa will return to Alabama in the next week or so, and will begin rehab in Tuscaloosa.
#Bama QB Tua Tagovailoa underwent successful surgery and his “prognosis is excellent.” pic.twitter.com/QD2DjcEOs8
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 18, 2019
Cain said there’s a big difference between Tagovailoa’s injury and Bo Jackson’s infamous hip injury that ended his career in 1991, per ESPN’s Laura Rutledge. Jackson assumed his injury wasn’t severe and continued to play on it, while Tagovailoa received immediate help after his major injury occurred.
Important note on Tua from Dr. Cain: his hip injury is completely different from Bo Jackson’s. Bo didn’t know his injury was severe & kept playing on it, causing irreparable damage. Docs acted quickly for Tua & after successful surgery today, I’m told experts expect full recovery
— Laura Rutledge (@LauraRutledge) November 18, 2019
Tagovailoa remains out for the rest of the season.