INDIANAPOLIS — Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson isn’t letting a cracked rib derail his shot at the pros. The Crimson Tide co-captain will officially throw at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine next week, shaking off the injury that ended his collegiate career on a physical low note. Simpson cracked his rib during a brutal 38-3 Rose Bowl loss to the eventual national champion Indiana Hoosiers on Jan. 1. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero confirmed the news this morning, ending weeks of speculation regarding the quarterback’s health and draft timeline.
For a player squarely in the mix for the early rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft, sitting out the throwing drills simply wasn’t an option. Medical staff gave him the green light, and he arrives at Lucas Oil Stadium ready to prove his arm is fully recovered.
From Patient Backup to SEC Leader
The chilly Indianapolis wind doesn’t bother a quarterback who survived the SEC gauntlet. Simpson didn’t follow the typical path of a modern five-star recruit. Instead of jumping into the transfer portal, he bided his time. He sat behind No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young in 2022, and then backed up Jalen Milroe for two straight seasons under both Nick Saban and the new regime. When he finally took the reins in 2025, he lit up the stat sheet.
The redshirt junior commanded the offense, leading the SEC with 305 completions and 473 pass attempts across 15 games. He finished his final year in Tuscaloosa with a 64.5 completion percentage, racking up 3,567 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. He also added 93 rushing yards and two scores on the ground.
His patience paid off in the record books. Against ULM, Simpson set a new Alabama single-game record with 17 consecutive completions. He also guided the Crimson Tide to a historic milestone, making them the first SEC team to beat four straight ranked conference opponents without an open date.
“He sat behind two incredible athletes and never complained. When his time came, he took the hits, stayed in the pocket, and delivered. The cracked rib in Pasadena literally took his breath away, but you couldn’t drag him away from this Combine. He has something to prove.”
— Anonymous AFC Scout, via Indianapolis Combine Access
Draft Implications / What’s Next
Simpson joins 11 other Alabama products in Indianapolis from February 23 through March 2. His medical evaluations will be the first major hurdle, but the on-field throwing sessions will dictate his Day 1 draft capital.
With Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza largely viewed as the consensus top quarterback in this class, the race for QB2 is wide open. Teams desperate for a franchise signal-caller are heavily scrutinizing Simpson’s tape. If he tests well and shows no lingering zip issues from the rib injury, he easily secures a first-round selection. That outcome makes him the seventh Alabama quarterback drafted on Day 1, joining a prestigious list that includes Harry Gilmer, Joe Namath, Richard Todd, Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones, and Bryce Young.
