Tua Tagovailoa’s journey in the NFL has been marked by frequent injuries since the Miami Dolphins drafted him in 2020. The Pro Bowl quarterback has yet to complete a full season without setbacks, facing several injury challenges, including multiple concussions. These ongoing health issues have raised serious questions about the quarterback’s long-term durability and the Dolphins’ future.
Former NFL player and current analyst Louis Riddick addressed these concerns during an appearance on NFL Live, where he stressed the need for the Dolphins to reassess their approach if they want to contend this season. Riddick highlighted both Tagovailoa’s injury history and the team’s overall performance as critical issues needing immediate attention.
“He (Tua Tagovailoa) knows that the best ability that he has is his availability,” Riddick said. “And he’s just got to be smart. … He knows the things he can control, he has to be better at. … Otherwise, he’s putting himself at danger, and then secondarily he is putting his team at risk.” —Louis Riddick, analyst
“Now, Tua’s longevity and Tua’s availability isn’t just on him either. Mike McDaniel’s got to make some adjustments here. … This team is not good enough. … They have to be better in that respect to where this team is not a high flying, high wire every single game, where everything is RPO, everythign is Tua being put on a play and everything is trying to hit big plays down the field. So there’s a lot going on here at Miami. But it starts with Tua being smarter.” —Louis Riddick, analyst
Last season, Tagovailoa suffered his third concussion in two years during a game against the Buffalo Bills. He missed four games, and the Dolphins ended the year with an 8-9 record, falling short of the playoffs once again.
Miami Dolphins maintain confidence in Tagovailoa despite injury record
Although Tua has faced numerous injury setbacks, the Dolphins have demonstrated continued faith in his abilities. In July 2024, the team exercised his fifth-year option and rewarded him with a substantial contract extension. The new deal commits Tagovailoa to the Dolphins through the 2028 season, reportedly worth $212.4 million over four years.
During his five-year tenure, Tagovailoa has amassed 15,506 passing yards and 100 touchdowns across 64 games. Despite these achievements, Miami has yet to secure a playoff berth with him as quarterback. The upcoming season is therefore a crucial test for both Tagovailoa and head coach Mike McDaniel, especially as the coach’s job may depend on the team’s ability to improve.
The Dolphins’ future success largely hinges on Tagovailoa’s ability to stay healthy and lead effectively on the field. With a history of injuries and questions about the team’s overall competitiveness, the pressure is on Miami to make tactical adjustments and for Tagovailoa to manage his play style wisely to avoid further setbacks.