Tua Tagovailoa well aware of his NFL situation after concussion fears

19 July 2023 , 16:50

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Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa

Miami Dolphins starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa believes that his health, specifically the ability to complete a full season without injury, is the key to sustaining success with the organization.

The Dolphins officially picked up Tagovailoa's fifth-year contract option in March, extending his contract through the 2024 NFL season. The move was a clear sign that the team believes Tua has the talent and leadership ability to guide their young offense to the Super Bowl.

In a recent interview, Tagovailoa spoke about the next steps he needs to take to become the Dolphins' long-term QB solution. He was candid about his injury history, listing the importance of his availability over his ability to win games.

"I think I have got to do what I've been doing this past year," Tagovailoa said to the Palm Beach Post . "Just the way I play football, play my style of football. But I think the things that have hurt me have been just the injuries."

"And so I've been working really hard to hopefully, elongate myself, you know, throughout to withstand seasons. And so we'll see how all that plays out. And God willing, I can make it through the entire season, and we can win a playoff game, we can win a Super Bowl, all of that good stuff."

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Injuries have plagued Tagovailoa's young NFL career, specifically a series of concussions that sidelined the player through large parts of the 2022 season. Before signing an extension, Dolphins GM Chris Grier was open and honest about Tagovailoa's health impacting the deal and the team's patience to wait and see if he can prove a healthy track record before they dish out major cash.

It is assumed that Tua will be offered a second contract with the organization if he can stay healthy and bulk up his frame. In 2022, the team pursued the likes of DeShaun Watson before he signed with the Cleveland Browns, signaling their hesitancy to stamp Tagovailoa as the QB of the future. Former Dolphins Head Coach Brian Flores allegedly was the lead catalyst in pursuit of Watson, where team owner Stephen Ross was against the move.

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Flores was fired after three seasons with the Dolphins, breathing new life into the idea that Tagovailoa could flourish as the lead QB. He played at an MVP level in 2022, leading the Dolphins to an 8-3 start as one of the top offenses in the league.

To combat his injuries, Tagovailoa has invested in jiu-jitsu lessons once a week to properly learn how to fall and minimize the damage taken on the way down. He noted how NFL QBs rarely get hit throughout practices during the off-season, resulting in not giving him enough reps to try and react to the possibility of an awkward fall.

Rory Robinson