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Beau Pribula injury update for Missouri football starting QB; timeline TBD
- Story byColumbia Daily Tribune
- Beau Pribula injury update for Missouri football starting QB; timeline TBD
Missouri football starting quarterback Beau Pribula injury does not have an official timeline for return from an ankle injury sustained at Vanderbilt, but the diagnosis makes it unlikely that the QB will return in the regular season.
During his SEC coach teleconference appearance Wednesday, Mizzou head coach Eli Drinkwitz announced that Pribula sustained a "non-fractured dislocated ankle." Pribula did not break any bones and does not need surgery.
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The head coach did not provide an official timeline for Pribula's return, saying his "path to recovery is TBD."
The nonfracture in the dislocated ankle is quite rare, per Drinkwitz, only occurring in "about 1% of ankle injuries." Medical case studies suggest the injury requires 6-9 weeks of immobilization followed by physiotherapy, which would mean Pribula would, at minimum, miss the remainder of the regular season and potentially any postseason game the Tigers play.
As of now, that timeline is unconfirmed.
"We're doing everything we can," Drinkwitz said. "There is no surgery and there is no broken bones, but there was a dislocation that had to be corrected, and we're working towards recovery. They don't know what the timetable for his return would be."
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Missouri's regular-season finale is Nov. 29 against Arkansas, a game that is one month away as of the team's official announcement on Pribula's injury.
The head coach also announced starting tight end Brett Norfleet sustained a "separated shoulder" against Vanderbilt. The coach said his status will be updated on the SEC availability report next Wednesday.
On Mizzou's first offensive series of the third quarter, Pribula took a fourth-and-goal QB keeper to the goal line but was stood up by the Vandy defense. He dropped to the field and remained on the ground for several minutes.
Mizzou trainers quickly ran onto the field to give Pribula treatment. He was able to stand up and get onto the cart. He had an air cast on his left leg.
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Pribula's leg appeared to get trapped underneath Vanderbilt defensive tackle Joshua Singh, who grabbed a hold of the quarterback's left leg and held on for a few seconds as other tackles knocked Pribula to the ground.
"He was on the bottom of the pile, and somebody grabbed his leg and kind of fell on him," Drinkwitz said. "Unfortunate. You know, unfortunate injury right there."
Missouri's quarterback Beau Pribula (9) leaves the field after going down on a fourth-and-goal run at the Vanderbilt one-yard line in the second half of their game at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. Pribula left the game with what was diagnosed as a dislocated ankle.
Pribula was carted to a wheelchair on the sideline and later returned to the sideline in a boot and on crutches.
Mizzou will now officially turn to true freshman quarterback Matt Zollers for the foreseeable future. Zollers finished the game at quarterback for MU at Vanderbilt and had an impressive outing in his first extended reps as a college quarterback.
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Zollers' first start is expected to come Nov. 8 against Texas A&M in Columbia. Missouri has four more games remaining this season, with Mississippi State visiting Columbia after the Aggies before back-to-back road games at Oklahoma and Arkansas.
Zollers showed poise and promise in his unexpected relief appearance, going 14-of-23 for 138 yards and a touchdown. His last-gasp, Hail Mary to Kevin Coleman Jr. that would have tied the game as time expired was completed, but the catch was ruled an inch short of the goal line. The freshman had three fourth-down completions, including a fourth-and-2 touchdown to Jude James.
Missouri has already lost quarterback Sam Horn, who was in a competition with Pribula to win the starting job, for the season due to an injury in Week 1. Horn was ruled out for the remainder of the season with that injury, meaning MU is now officially down to QB3.
Behind Zollers, Mizzou only has walk-ons in Brett Brown, Tommy Lock, Essien Smith and Kameron Eleby as options at QB. Drinkwitz confirmed that Brown is now the backup.
Missouri's quarterback Matt Zollers (5) is brought down by Vanderbilt's cornerback Kolbey Taylor (3) during their game at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025.
Pribula transferred to Missouri from Penn State last December. He was in an offseason competition with Horn for the starting job and was named starter after Horn's season-ending injury in August.
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He started eight games for Mizzou and averaged 210.6 passing yards per game with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions, completing 70% of his passes. He rushed for 27.5 yards per game.
More: Matt Zollers showed plenty promise. Move to QB3 may not be season-killer for Missouri football
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Even if Pribula cannot return this season, this is not a college-career-ending injury. Pribula, although listed as a graduate student on the Missouri roster, has one remaining year of eligibility.
"I'm hurt for him, you know? I've been in that situation," Mizzou center Connor Tollison said Saturday after the game. "It's not fun. You never know when your last play could be or (when) your next play will be. So, just sad to see that happen."
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Beau Pribula injury update, timeline to return for Missouri QB
