Tua Tagovailoa is OFICIALLY back with the Dolphins after they pick up his fifth-year option

The Dolphins officially exercised Tua Tagovailoa’s fifth-year option on Monday, ending any speculation about who their quarterback would be for the 2023 season.

The option will pay Tagovailoa a fully-guaranteed $23.17million salary.

Tagovailoa performed well last season, throwing for 3,548 yards and 25 touchdowns, but his health issues left major question marks surrounding his future in Miami.

The quarterback suffered at least two concussions during the season, missing most of six games including the Dolphins’ wild-card round matchup vs. the Bills.

Tagovailoa was forced to spend more than a month in concussion protocol after his second diagnosed head injury of the season, vs. the Packers in Week 16.

However, Tagovailoa exited concussion protocol on February 1 and Miami evidently feels comfortable moving forward with him as their quarterback.

Tagovailoa’s first concussion scare came in the second quarter against the Bills in September

Tagovailoa was also diagnosed with a concussion in Week 4 – just four days after he appeared extremely disoriented after a hit vs. the Bills which was called a back injury at the time.

The NFL and NFLPA conducted two joint reviews into how the quarterback’s head injuries were handled, with an unaffiliated neurological consultant (who cleared him to play in Week 3) being fired as a result of the first probe.

And The NFL and the players’ union cleared the team of any wrongdoing over the diagnosis of Tagovailoa’s second concussion.

Miami had an 8-5 record in games Tagovailoa started last season.