Alabama head coach Nick Saban provided yet another positive update on Tua Tagovailoa.

The Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback will miss today’s game with Arkansas after undergoing surgery on his ankle, but Tagovailoa’s journey back to the field has been a smooth one.

“He’s absolutely doing even better than expected,” Saban told ESPN’s Tom Luginbill during an interview that aired on SEC Nation. “Didn’t have a lot of swelling this time around, so that sort of extenuates the ability to rehab. And he’s doing well.”

On Sunday, Tagovailoa underwent a procedure to repair a high ankle sprain on his right ankle he injured in the Tennessee game. The Crimson Tide quarterback left Saturday’s game in the second quarter and did not return to the sideline after receiving medical attention.

Prior to his surgery, Tagovailoa said he would be back in time to play No. 2 LSU on Nov. 9.

While he hasn’t given a timetable for Tagovailoa’s return, Saban has remained optimistic.

“These things are hard to predict, but we want him to be three or four days non-weight bearing, and then he can sort of go as tolerated relative to his rehab,” Saban said on Golic and Wingo on Thursday. “He was back on the field in 12 days before the last one. This one doesn’t seem to be quite as serious as the last one, and it’s not his plant foot to throw.

“So hopefully, in a couple of weeks, we’ll be able to have him back on the field. Now, how capable he’ll be and how close to 100 percent he can get just kind of remains to be seen.”

Tagovailoa has thrown for 2,166 yards, 27 touchdowns and only two interceptions on 145-of-194 passing (74.7 percent). The junior quarterback is among the top contenders for this season’s Heisman Trophy after finishing as the runner-up a year ago while also dealing with a high ankle sprain that he suffered in the SEC Championship Game. That injury was to his left ankle.

In the Tennessee game, Tagovailoa was replaced behind center by Mac Jones, who finished the rivalry game 6-of-11 for 72 yards. Jones will start this weekend’s matchup with Arkansas.

The backup quarterback all year long, Saturday will be the first start of Jones’ career.

“I think the preparation has been good this week,” Saban said. “And I think the message to the rest of the players on the team is everybody’s got to play well. You’ve got to play well around the quarterback if he’s going to be able to play well. And I think Mac’s very capable, and we’ve got a lot of confidence in him.”

No. 1 Alabama will play host to Arkansas at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.

Contact Charlie Potter by 247Sports' personal messaging or on Twitter (@Charlie_Potter).