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Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is beginning to understand the old football adage that your best ability is your availability.
The Dolphins' sixth-year signal-caller has been hampered throughout his run in Miami with a string of injuries. Most notably, Tagovailoa has suffered a series of frightening concussions. The latest came in Week 2 of last season on a 4th-and-4 snap when Tagovailoa scrambled and then collided helmet-first into Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin.
That concussion sidelined Tagovailoa four games as the Dolphins sank to an early 2-4 start to the 2024 season. Tagovailoa did return in Week 8 and proceeded to start nine more games last season, but he missed the final two contests with a hip injury.
On Tuesday, Tagovailoa met with reporters during Miami's mandatory minicamp to discuss his path back from injury. Tagovailoa detailed when he started to feel like himself again physically.
"I would say it started to feel a little better more so like in February," Tagovailoa said.
While the Dolphins' quarterback and the Miami medical staff knows more of the details on what exactly the hip injury was, Tagovailoa wasn't divulging that information.
"Yeah. We know exactly what it was, but I don’t want to disclose any of that information," Tagovailoa said.
Tagovailoa did say that the injury shouldn't be a recurring one, so long as he can protect himself better. As it needs to be, doing a better job keeping himself out of harm's way is a key area of emphasis for Tagovailoa heading into 2025.
"Doing everything I can to stay available for the guys. Like I’ve said before in the past, nothing changes with that. It’s knowing when is the time to give up on a play. I would say the longevity for me to be on the field with my guys is more important than whatever that one play is.
"You have more quarters than there would be within just that one play. I’m trying to show the guys I’m competitive and whatnot. I know they know that, but it’s a nature thing. It just comes natural to me to compete in that sense, and that’s just the thing I fight with every time," Tagovailoa said.
The Dolphins' franchise quarterback discussed how to know when the right time is to give up on a play. Tagovailoa said he needs to recalibrate his practice approach.
"I think that’s why you have practice and it starts in practice. I’ve got to sort of shift my mindset of this isn’t just practice where guys can’t hit me, I’ve got to take it into a sense where if this guy is here, get the ball out.
"And if I’m scrambling and this guy is getting close, not to just hold on to it knowing they can hit me if it was real football. Just throw it away, or just run and just stop to signify to slide if you will, but I think it’s the transition and focus of bringing that game-like feel into practice," Tagovailoa said.
The Dolphins wrap their mandatory minicamp on Friday from Miami Gardens and then will return to open training camp in July.
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa emphasizing availability entering 2025
Continue reading...
The Dolphins' sixth-year signal-caller has been hampered throughout his run in Miami with a string of injuries. Most notably, Tagovailoa has suffered a series of frightening concussions. The latest came in Week 2 of last season on a 4th-and-4 snap when Tagovailoa scrambled and then collided helmet-first into Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin.
That concussion sidelined Tagovailoa four games as the Dolphins sank to an early 2-4 start to the 2024 season. Tagovailoa did return in Week 8 and proceeded to start nine more games last season, but he missed the final two contests with a hip injury.
On Tuesday, Tagovailoa met with reporters during Miami's mandatory minicamp to discuss his path back from injury. Tagovailoa detailed when he started to feel like himself again physically.
"I would say it started to feel a little better more so like in February," Tagovailoa said.
While the Dolphins' quarterback and the Miami medical staff knows more of the details on what exactly the hip injury was, Tagovailoa wasn't divulging that information.
"Yeah. We know exactly what it was, but I don’t want to disclose any of that information," Tagovailoa said.
Tagovailoa did say that the injury shouldn't be a recurring one, so long as he can protect himself better. As it needs to be, doing a better job keeping himself out of harm's way is a key area of emphasis for Tagovailoa heading into 2025.
"Doing everything I can to stay available for the guys. Like I’ve said before in the past, nothing changes with that. It’s knowing when is the time to give up on a play. I would say the longevity for me to be on the field with my guys is more important than whatever that one play is.
"You have more quarters than there would be within just that one play. I’m trying to show the guys I’m competitive and whatnot. I know they know that, but it’s a nature thing. It just comes natural to me to compete in that sense, and that’s just the thing I fight with every time," Tagovailoa said.
The Dolphins' franchise quarterback discussed how to know when the right time is to give up on a play. Tagovailoa said he needs to recalibrate his practice approach.
"I think that’s why you have practice and it starts in practice. I’ve got to sort of shift my mindset of this isn’t just practice where guys can’t hit me, I’ve got to take it into a sense where if this guy is here, get the ball out.
"And if I’m scrambling and this guy is getting close, not to just hold on to it knowing they can hit me if it was real football. Just throw it away, or just run and just stop to signify to slide if you will, but I think it’s the transition and focus of bringing that game-like feel into practice," Tagovailoa said.
The Dolphins wrap their mandatory minicamp on Friday from Miami Gardens and then will return to open training camp in July.
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa emphasizing availability entering 2025
Continue reading...
