Maryland fans can breathe a slight sigh of relief as head coach Mike Locksley provided an update on the status of quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa.
“[Taulia] had an MRI on Sunday. Basically reaggravated the previous injury that he had against Michigan,” Locksley added. “Had an MRI, had our doctors looked at it. Also had a second opinion and again, just reaggrevated the previous injury that and very thankful that he had the knee brace on that game.”
Locksley also added that Taulia remains a game-time decision this weekend. “He was able to make it back after the Michigan game with the same injury. It’s all about how his body feels and recovers and we’ll continue to do things necessary to keep his safety and health at the front of our decisions.” Locksley later revealed to be a sprained MCL suffered against Michigan that was reaggravated against Indiana.
“A huge sense of relief, obviously.”
Should Taulia miss this weekend, it would mark the first missed game for Taulia since the Rutgers game back in 2020. Saturday would have marked the first meeting between Maryland and Northwestern since Taulia’s debut to begin the 2020 season. If Maryland does indeed make a change at quarterback this weekend, quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. will make his first career start in college, but he’s fared well in both appearances so far this season. After Taulia suffered a fourth-quarter injury versus Michigan, Edwards stepped into his first relief performance and led the offense on a 14-play, 75-yard drive that ended in a touchdown. Then again this past weekend after Taulia went down roughly three minutes into the fourth quarter with Maryland trailing 27-24, Edwards led Maryland on a pair of seven-play drives that pushed Maryland ahead for its fifth win of the season. Edwards enters Saturday 9-of-16 with 97 yards and a pair of passing touchdowns, while adding 70 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground.
“I think, as a backup quarterback, I think that’s always in the back of my head, just staying ready for whenever my number’s called,” Edwards recalled about his relief appearance. “Obviously I hate the fashion I went in, obviously for a teammate of mine to get injured, but that’s kind of the, [Locksley] preaches the next man up mentality so as soon as I saw him down, you know, I obviously know I was going in for at least one play, and then from there on, you kind of just ease into things, get relaxed and, and then play from there.”
Maryland kicks off this weekend’s homecoming game at 3:30 PM on BTN.
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