Miami Dolphins reveal there’s no decision yet on Tua Tagovailoa’s fifth-year option with the quarterback entering the last year of his rookie contract after his season was hindered by concussion – but Mike McDaniel says team wants him ‘for a long time’
The Miami Dolphins have not yet made a decision on whether or not the team will pick up starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, according to head coach Mike McDaniel.
While talking to reporters at the NFL scouting combine, McDaniel said he and general manager Chris Grier are still discussing the decision ahead of the May 1 deadline.
‘Like any other player, you factor in every variable,’ McDaniel said.
‘I think it’s important to recognize we have a congruence of interests by the Dolphins and the player, Tua, that we both want him to play at a very high level for a long time for the Miami Dolphins.’
Tagovailoa had a breakout season after setting career highs in passing yards, passing touchdowns, completion percentage and passer rating last season.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel revealed team is unsure on Tua Tagovailoa’s fifth-year option
Tagovailoa is set to enter the fourth and final year of his rookie contract if option is declined
He finished the season with 3,548 yards, 25 touchdowns, eight interceptions, a 64.8 completion rating, and a league leading 105.5 passer rating.
Despite the outstanding numbers he once again struggled to stay healthy for a full season.
After missing four games in 2021 due to various injuries, Tagovailoa ended up as one of the most focused on players during the NFL season due to concussion.
The 24-year-old quarterback had at least three concussion scares – with two confirmed by Tua entering the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Back on Week 3 in a game against the Buffalo Bills, he was pulled from the game with what was initially believed to be a back injury. It was later investigated for a potential violation of the league’s concussion protocol.
Just four days later, in the Dolphins Week 4 game in Cincinnati on Thursday Night Football, Tagovailoa was flung to the ground and demonstrated what neurological experts call a fencing response.
He was rushed to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center that evening and was discharged from the hospital later that night.
The incident forced the NFL and the NFL Players Association to revise their concussion policy.
He struggled with injuries during season after suffering multiple concussions before being sat
Tagovailoa stayed in the league’s protocol until he was fully activated in Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
However, after setting career highs in passing attempts, passing yards, passer rating, and touchdowns, Tagovailoa was concussed once again on a Christmas Day game in Week 16 against the Green Bay Packers.
He was placed in concussion protocol for the second time this season and missed the team’s final three games – including yesterday’s 34-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Wild Card round.
‘We’re probably best served to utilize the time [until the deadline],’ McDaniel said.
‘That’s kind of the way we’re approaching it, but that doesn’t mean that we’re spending any long period of time not discussing it. This is something that Chris and I have been working through.’
Tagovailoa’s option is not the only major decision Miami’s brain trust has to make in the near future as they also have a call to make on Mike Gesicki.
After two straight seasons in which he registered over 700 receiving yards, Gesicki posted the lowest numbers of his career after appearing not to be a fit in McDaniel’s offense.
His unique receiving abilities would likely make him one of, if not the most sought after tight end in free agency this year, and could net the Dolphins a decent return in a tag-and-trade.
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