Tua Tagovailoa is not leaving South Florida this off-season.
He has had issues with injuries in the first three years of his young professional career, but the Miami Dolphins are behind Tagovailoa as its starting quarterback for next fall. The organization believes the native Hawaiian can maintain his health going forward and will stay on the field longer. Tagovailoa is learning “judo” and “jiu-jitsu” to learn how to fall and protect himself.
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He was at his best last season when he was healthy.
Tagovailoa posted a career-high 3,548 passing yards and 25 passing touchdowns. He secured an NFL-best 105.5 passer rating and was in the conversation for the league’s Most Valuable Player until he started having problems with concussions.
Miami has until May 2 to pick up the fifth-year option on Tagovailoa’s rookie contract, but head coach Mike McDaniel is sold on him. Jeff Darlington, an ESPN reporter, stated the Dolphins did not pursue Lamar Jackson. Jackson got signed to a non-exclusive tag by the Baltimore Ravens, which means any team that could pay the Ravens more for Jackson can get him.
Tagovailoa defeated Jackson in the regular season with career highs for passing yards (469) and touchdowns (six) in a 42-38 victory. Darlington said — citing sources — that McDaniel believes Tagovailoa is the ‘perfect fit’ for his system.
A healthy Tagovailoa would have had Miami deep in the playoffs in 2022.
The Dolphins will not be pursuing Lamar Jackson or any other starting QBs this off-season, multiple team sources tell me. As one source said, “Mike fully believes Tua is the perfect fit for his system.”
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) March 7, 2023
We will see if the former Alabama signal-caller can remain on the field next season.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
