Where Missouri Tigers quarterback situation stands ahead of Saturday’s game at Georgia
The Missouri Tigers’ quarterback situation remains in question ahead of this Saturday’s game at No. 1 Georgia.
Starting quarterback Connor Bazelak left last Saturday’s game against Vanderbilt with a little over six minutes left in the fourth quarter. He was stumbling around while holding his hip before falling to the ground and being tended to by trainers.
Following the game, head coach Eliah Drinkwitz indicated his quarterback had suffered a soft tissue injury and that it needed to be evaluated more.
During his weekly press conference Tuesday, Drinkwitz didn’t give any sort of clear answer when asked for an update on Bazelak, leaving uncertainty ahead of the Tigers’ toughest test of the season.
“I really don’t have any more information about our injury report until Thursday,” Drinkwitz said.
Those words were repeated quite often throughout the press conference.
But even when that report is released Thursday, which hasn’t included details on the nature of injuries at any point this season, Bazelak could be designated as questionable, doubtful or out. So there’s a good chance we won’t know who will be Mizzou’s starting quarterback until the game gets underway Saturday.
True freshman Tyler Macon was subbed into the Vanderbilt contest over Brady Cook once Bazalek went down. Following the game, Drinkwitz said that it was a situational decision. Macon finished with eight rushing yards and a rushing touchdown on two attempts; he didn’t attempt a pass.
“Had it been a different situation, maybe Brady, he’s more comfortable in some of the other schemes that we have and we would have put him in the game,” Drinkwitz said Tuesday. “But with the schemes that we were running right there, I think that was the best player for those schemes.”
Drinkwitz declined to give any further information when asked who might start under center if Bazelak isn’t available and said he won’t be adjusting anything about how the quarterbacks do practice reps.
“Well, we won’t know anything until we get some practice, you know, where Connor’s at. So not really adjusting really,” Drinkwitz said. “I mean, [Macon and Cook] have both been getting reps and we had a plan that you saw unfold in front of you about how we were kind of going to orchestrate the game should something happen to Connor. So that kind of would just stay in place. So I’m not stressed about it.”
When asked a follow up about whether Bazelak was expected to participate in practice at all this week, Drinkwitz again referred to the injury report set to come out Thursday.
The team normally allows media to watch a small portion of open practice periods on Tuesdays, but closed off access this week.
The Bulldogs have an utterly dominant defensive line known for creating pressure on quarterbacks. They lead the SEC with 26 sacks this season, which could be a recipe for disaster if the Tigers choose to play a quarterback who isn’t 100% health-wise.
“If you’re deemed ready to play, you’re ready to play,” Drinkwitz said. “So that’s not gonna impact the decision at all.”
How that decision unfolds will certainly play a huge factor in Saturday’s game. For now, it’s a waiting game.
