Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald was carted off the field in the first quarter of Thursday night's 31-28 loss to Ole Miss with what coach Dan Mullen later called a dislocated ankle.
Fitzgerald underwent successful surgery Friday morning, a Mississippi State official told ESPN's Alex Scarborough. Fitzgerald will not play in the Bulldogs' bowl game, but the team official said he is expected to return for the 2018 season.
The Clarion-Ledger first reported Fitzgerald's surgery.
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Fitzgerald was running the ball when he was tackled, and his leg bent awkwardly. Athletic trainers immediately ran onto the field and tended to the quarterback for several minutes as players on both teams took a knee in Starkville.
Fitzgerald had the leg put in an air cast before being carted away. He urged his team along from the cart even as he left the field and was watching the game from the Bulldogs sideline in the second half.
I'll be back stronger and better than ever! I love all my Hailstate fam and all I want right now is for all of y'all to ring your bells as loud as you can and support this team to a huge egg bowl win! #HaiIState
— Nick Fitzgerald (@nickfitz07) November 24, 2017
Mississippi State athletic officials called it an ankle injury during the game. While meeting with reporters after the loss, Mullen said Fitzgerald dislocated his ankle but did not have any details beyond that.
Keytaon Thompson replaced Fitzgerald for the No. 14 Bulldogs, who were trailing 7-0 at the time of the injury. The freshman finished 13-of-27 passing for 195 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also ran for 121 yards and a score.
Fitzgerald came into the game leading the SEC in rushing yards by a quarterback, with 968 yards on the ground in 11 games. He has thrown for 1,770 yards, 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
He entered the game 230 passing yards and 32 rushing yards away from becoming the first player in SEC history with multiple seasons of 2,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Last year in the Egg Bowl, Fitzgerald ran for a school-record 258 yards and two touchdowns and while also throwing for three touchdowns.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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