Jimbo Fisher updates Haynes King injury, recovery timeline

Texas A&M head coach provided an update Monday on quarterback Haynes King and a possible timeline for his return. The second-year freshman exited Saturday’s game early in the first quarter after fracturing his ankle.

On3’s Matt Zenitz and Gerry Hamilton reported Monday that King had surgery Sunday and is expected to be out until at least mid-October.

Fisher provided an update of the surgery and what the next steps are for King.

“He had a crack in his lower leg that they fixed and operated on,” Fisher said. “It went clean as a whistle; went really good. Was as good as it could humanly be, as far as the prognosis of things.

“Now, timeline, I’m not a doctor and I’m not going to say. When you heal, you heal, and we would never play him in any way, shape or form before that.”

While an exact date for his return hasn’t been pinned down, King will definitely miss the Aggies’ SEC opener on Sept. 25 against No. 20 Arkansas. He was 21-of-33 for 292 yards with two touchdown passes and three interceptions in his debut as the team’s starter against Kent State in Week 1.

Fisher and Texas A&M will now turn to sophomore quarterback Zach Calzada, who led the Aggies to a comeback 10-3 win over Colorado after King’s exit. Calzada was 18-of-38 for 183 yards with one turnover in the win.

What Zach Calzada brings to Aggies offense

Calzada lost out on the starting job to King in preseason camp. On Saturday he struggled early to connect with his receivers but grew more comfortable as the game went on. He made a few nice plays with his feet and almost rushed for a touchdown but fumbled it at the goal line. He had seven carries for 29 yards. 

A redshirt sophomore, Calzada is entering his third year with the program. He saw limited time against Kent State and threw an interception on his one pass attempt. He did not play last season when he backed up Kellen Mond.

The Sugar Hill, Georgia, native came to College Station as a rather unheralded recruit. He was expected to take over for Monday, but King and Calzada were entrenched in a quarterback battle during the offseason. King won the starting job with a week to go before the season opener.

Calazada now has to prepare to face New Mexico this Saturday. A week later, the Aggies open SEC play at No. 20 Arkansas.