Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

After being hobbled by a sprained ankle for the past several weeks, Missouri sophomore quarterback Blaine Gabbert professed himself healthy and ready to go for the Tigers' game Saturday against Baylor.

	Jamie Squire/Getty Images
	Blaine Gabbert appears to be healthy for the first time since the Nebraska game.

The best indicator was when Gabbert appeared for the Tigers' weekly media availability on Monday afternoon. There was no walking cast this time around, as Gabbert appeared wearing tennis shoes.

It was easy to tell he was feeling better, after watching his improved performance in the Tigers' 36-17 triumph over Colorado last week.

Gabbert completed 17 of 29 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns. But even more telling was his 26 rushing yards on six carries -- his largest rushing total since the third game of the season.

"It felt good. My ankle's feeling a lot better than it has been," Gabbert said. "It means that they can't drop everybody into coverage. It really helps the running game out a lot, because the defense can't key in on Derrick [Washington] because they have to focus on me, too."

Gabbert was injured Oct. 8 against Nebraska, which helps explain Missouri's three losses to start conference play that pushed the defending North Division title-game participants deep in the cellar.

But Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said that Gabbert's recovery immediately helps enliven his team's offense.

"He might be 100 percent this week," Pinkel said. "We saw him run a little bit, not near as fast as he can. He made a couple mistakes, forced a couple balls. Young quarterbacks do that, but it's important we get that fixed. He's showed a tremendous amount of courage through this. There are some quarterbacks who would say, 'I'm not 100 percent. I don't think I should play.' But he's just a warrior."