Mizzou quarterback Beau Pribula appears closer to a return as Oklahoma looms
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- Beau Pribula warmed up and threw Saturday, signaling accelerated ankle recovery.
- Missouri listed him out but reports show early optimism for Oklahoma return.
- Pribula's potential return would boost Mizzou's CFP hopes facing No. 8 Oklahoma.
Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula is suddenly back in the conversation.
Three weeks after suffering a gruesome ankle injury at Vanderbilt, one that left him carted off the field and wheeled to the locker room, Pribula was back on the field Saturday night ahead of kickoff against Mississippi State.
This time, he wasn’t being helped off by trainers. He was throwing.
Pribula went through a brief warmup before the game and, in a surprise to anyone who saw the original injury, didn’t appear limited. There was no brace on his ankle. He moved around freely, shifting his weight and stepping into throws. For a player long expected to miss significant time, it was the clearest sign yet that his recovery may be accelerating.
Missouri still ruled him out on its final injury report, which was released 90 minutes before kickoff. He had been listed as doubtful throughout the week, and Saturday marked the first time he’d been seen participating in any on-field activity since Oct. 25.
By Sunday night, the optimism only grew. CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported there is “early optimism” Pribula could be in line to return as soon as Missouri’s next matchup, this coming Saturday at No. 8 Oklahoma. A potential start would come almost exactly four weeks after the injury.
Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz revealed Oct. 29 that Pribula suffered a nonfractured dislocated ankle — a rare injury that accounts for roughly 1% of ankle injuries. He avoided surgery, and the dislocation was corrected, but Drinkwitz cautioned then that there was no timeline.
“His path to recovery is to be determined,” Drinkwitz said. “We’re doing everything we can. ... Don’t know what his timeline for recovery would be.”
If Pribula is trending toward a return, it would be a significant development. The Penn State transfer has thrown for 1,685 yards, 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions while adding 220 rushing yards and five scores. This production helped propel Missouri’s offense early in the season.
Freshman Matt Zollers has handled the job in Pribula’s absence, showing flashes while also enduring expected growing pains. Missouri is still clinging to the edges of the College Football Playoff picture, needing to win out to keep any hope alive. Facing Oklahoma with its starter potentially back would be a considerable boost.
Whether Pribula can do more than warm up remains unclear. But the fact he’s moving comfortably, braceless and active in pregame drills marks a significant step forward. Sunday’s report was an optimistic sign for Mizzou heading into yet another ranked matchup.
Missouri’s matchup with No. 8 Oklahoma is set for an 11 a.m. kickoff, as has been known for some time, and will be broadcast nationally on ABC, which the SEC announced late Saturday night.
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