The Miami Dolphins have already made it clear that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will return because the crew’s starter in 2023.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel stated as a lot in his press convention that adopted Sunday’s 34-31 wild-card spherical playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills that ended Miami’s season.
General supervisor Chris Grier backed that up Monday as he and McDaniel supplied their ultimate perspective on the 2022 season and regarded forward into the 2023 offseason.
“I would say that Tua’s our starting quarterback,” Grier stated, definitively. “I don’t know how we can say it any more clearly. We’ve been that way through this season.”
Beyond that, for the quarterback that simply accomplished his third NFL season, the Dolphins additionally anticipate him to be wholesome following a season the place Tagovailoa suffered two recognized concussions plus one other earlier blow to the top.
“We fully expect him back next year, 100 percent, ready to go,” Grier stated.
Tagovailoa missed 5 begins between the common season and postseason recovering from the top trauma, had one occasion the place he was stretchered off and despatched to a hospital in Cincinnati from his most extreme concussion on Sept. 29 and likewise missed snaps 4 days earlier in a house sport towards the Bills to be evaluated for a head damage.
The Dolphins brass believes the concussion historical past for Tagovailoa, who additionally suffered one in school at Alabama, doesn’t make him extra vulnerable to future concussions.
“I think, from what our doctors and the consultants we talk to through the NFLPA, that is not a true statement,” Grier stated in regards to the concept of being extra prone to undergo future concussions. “For us, I don’t think he’s any more prone than anyone else. … From everything we’ve been told, that is not a concern.”
McDaniel added: “Specifically, these are the doctors that are working with him directly and individually, as opposed to generalization.”
According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons: “The risk of concussion in football is three to six times higher in players who have had a previous concussion.”
There are circumstances of the alternative, nonetheless. Dolphins exterior linebacker Jaelan Phillips suffered a number of concussions in school at UCLA, however he has not had one since after sitting out the 2019 season to switch to the University of Miami, starring as a university defensive finish for the Hurricanes in 2020 after which his first two NFL seasons with the Dolphins.
There’s additionally been speak about altering Tagovailoa’s helmet, so he can mitigate the affect to the top, however Grier indicated that Tagovailoa’s helmet is without doubt one of the higher ones for participant security.
“For every player, that’s a choice that they make,” Grier stated. “They all like the comfort, feel and whatever. I think those will be discussions that we’ll have.”
McDaniel added that sliding will likely be a degree of emphasis with Tagovailoa, as nicely.
McDaniel reaffirmed the crew’s dedication to Tagovailoa on Sunday after the loss to the Bills.
“Of course. You guys know how I feel about Tua. That hasn’t changed at all,” the coach at Highmark Stadium. “I think we all see him as a leader on this team. When it’s appropriate for him to lead the team, we’ll jump on that opportunity.”
Tagovailoa enters the ultimate 12 months of his rookie contract. In 2023, Tagovailoa will earn a base wage of $1,010,000 and a roster bonus of $3,728,469, whereas carrying a cap hit of $9,633,094.
The Dolphins face the vital choice this offseason of whether or not to tackle the fifth-year possibility on his contract, which might commit them to Tagovailoa for 2024 at a determine of greater than $22 million.
“Everything’s on the table for us,” Grier stated.
Tagovailoa, in 13 video games this season, led the NFL in passer ranking at 105.5. He additionally was the league chief in yards per try at 8.9. He went 8-5 with a 64.8 completion proportion, 3,548 yards, 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Beyond Tagovailoa, the Dolphins had been ravaged by accidents in 2022. They by no means had cornerback Byron Jones from his surgical procedure throughout the 2022 offseason. They misplaced key defenders in security Brandon Jones, cornerback Nik Needham and defensive finish Emmanuel Ogbah for the season. Other standouts like Pro Bowlers in left sort out Terron Armstead and cornerback Xavien Howard missed time and performed by means of accidents. Miami was all the way down to its third-string rookie quarterback, Skylar Thompson, to start out a regular-season finale after which a playoff sport in Buffalo.
Grier estimated it was essentially the most one in every of his rosters had been decimated by accidents because the 2017 season.
Despite this, the overall supervisor will not be wanting into altering his philosophy sooner or later by putting larger emphasis on participant damage historical past when making roster selections.
“I think you can’t be scared of stuff,” stated Grier, noting Armstead’s play all through the season, together with working again Raheem Mostert as gamers who’ve been labeled as injury-prone.
Some of the Dolphins misplaced to damage in 2022 spoke to reporters for the primary time since having their seasons reduce brief in an open locker room session Monday.
Needham, who tore his Achilles, stated he’ll be sporting a boot on his proper foot for an additional month.
“I’ll be ready for training camp,” he stated. “That’s the plan if all the pieces retains going nicely.
An unrestricted free agent, Needham stated the crew has expressed curiosity in conserving him.
Ogbah was progressing from his triceps damage and was working towards a return to play had the Dolphins superior additional into the postseason.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com