Mizzou quarterback Beau Pribula faces long recovery with torn ligaments in ankle

Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula is facing an uphill battle to return this season after suffering a serious ankle injury in Saturday’s 17-10 loss at Vanderbilt.

According to a report from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, imaging conducted Sunday revealed Pribula tore three ligaments in his left ankle when it dislocated during the third quarter. The report noted he did not sustain a fracture, a rarity for that type of injury. Case studies from the National Institutes of Health indicate that fewer than 1% of ankle dislocations occur without broken bones.

The team has not officially ruled Pribula out for the remainder of the season, but recovery from multiple ligament tears generally requires at least six weeks of immobilization before an athlete can begin rehab. Missouri’s regular-season finale against Arkansas falls just five weeks after the injury, making a return by then improbable.

It was reported Sunday that Pribula’s injury will not require surgery and that there remains a slim possibility he could play again before the end of the regular season.

Pribula, a Penn State transfer, has started all eight games for the Tigers. He was injured on a fourth-and-goal run when his leg was trapped underneath a pile near the goal line. He left the field on a wheelchair with his ankle in an air cast and later returned to the sideline on crutches.

Through eight starts, Pribula threw for 1,685 yards and 11 touchdowns while rushing for five more scores. He also threw seven interceptions.

True freshman Matt Zollers, who replaced him in the third quarter Saturday, will assume starting duties when Missouri returns from its bye week to face No. 3 Texas A&M on Nov. 8 at Memorial Stadium.