Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa is set for the same kind of recovery he had last year on his injured right ankle, a procedure called a “tight rope.” It’s the opposite ankle that he injured last season, but the same timetable for recovery.

Tagovailoa left in the first half against Tennessee on Saturday and is expected to miss at least one game. Tagovailoa walked off the field and was taken to the sideline medical tent during the second quarter. Mac Jones relieved Tagovailoa, and Nick Saban said in a statement that Tagovailoa would miss the Arkansas game. Alabama then has an off week before the Nov. 9 showdown with LSU.

During an ESPN feature last season, Tom Rinaldi interviewed the orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Lyle Cain of Andrews Sports Medicine in Birmingham, who performed the surgery last season, and explained how it’s done. The high ankle sprain is because the ligament between tibia and fibula is torn. Doctors drill a wire across the two bones, which allows the two bones to stay together, and it provides long-term protection and fixation for the ankle.

“So not only the chances of you playing in the next few weeks,” Cain said, “the way your ankle feels six months from now, a year from now, two years from now.”