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Tua Tagovailoa

Dolphins GM admits he still has concerns about Tua Tagovailoa’s durability

Tua Tagovailoa (#1) drops back to pass for Dolphins versus Ravens
Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Last season Tua Tagovailoa had his breakout season with the Dolphins.

After being teamed with offensive guru Mike McDaniel as his head coach, Tagovailoa passed for 3,548 yards along with 25 touchdowns and just eight interceptions. Despite proving to his doubters that he is more than talented enough to be a starting quarterback in the NFL, the former Alabama star still couldn’t escape the injury bug that has plagued him since his final days with the Crimson Tide.

In 2022 Tagovailoa suffered a series of concussions causing him to miss five games and ultimately being shut down for the season as he was held out for the team’s playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills. The concussions are now the latest on a long list of concerning health issues for Tagovailoa as he has battled back from a dislocated hip, fractured ribs and broken fingers throughout his three seasons in the NFL.

Through it all, the front office and the coaching staff have voiced their support for Tagovailoa as the team’s starter but now even general manager Chris Grier isn’t publicly hiding his concern.

Grier was asked about Tagovailoa at the NFL Scouting Combine this week where he gave his honest thoughts about his quarterback.

“I can’t lie and say no,” Grier said when asked about Tagovailoa’s durability. “But it’s not something that is going to make us afraid to d something long-term with him. The one thing he’s had, he’s been banged up, but he always comes back and bounces back and plays hard and performs, so excited for his future. Excited for watching him doing all the work he’s been doing in the offseason right now to prepare for 2023, and he’s very excited to get back on the field with his teammates.”

Tagovailoa has missed 10 of his 45 games with the Dolphins and the franchise is quickly running out of time for an important decision involving him. The team has until May 1 in order to pick up his fifth-year option which would give the team an extra year of Tagovailoa under contract. If the team doesn’t move forward with the option, then Tagovailoa would hit the open market following the 2023 season.

At this point in time, Grier and the Dolphins are continuing to weigh all of their options.

“We’re still having those conversations because there’s a lot of factors that go into that,” Grier said. “And I think now that we’re finally finishing up the coaching staff, we’ll focus on some of these answers, and coming together with Mike (McDaniel) and I, we’ll sit and talk about it as well with (owner) Mr. (Stephen) Ross and (senior vice president) Brandon Shore, so we’ll go through it, and we’ll make our decision then.

“But all expectations, he’s our quarterback and he’s our quarterback here to be successful for a long time.”

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