Dolphins ‘pick up the fifth-year option’ on Tua Tagovailoa, despite the QB’s concussion scares

The Miami Dolphins will reportedly exercise the fifth-year option on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s contract. 

Despite battling concussion woes last season, the 25-year-old set career-highs in passing yards, touchdowns, completion percentage and passer rating last season, leading the league in the latter.

And Miami is now set to reward him for it by picking up the fifth-year option on the quarterback well in advance of the May 2 deadline, according to ESPN. 

Tagovailoa enters the fourth year of his rookie contract in 2023 and stands to make a fully guaranteed $23.4 million in 2024. 

Both general manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel had publicly committed to Tagovailoa starting for the Dolphins since the season ended, despite suggestions he should stop playing due to the number of head injuries he has sustained. 

The Miami Dolphins will reportedly exercise the fifth-year option on Tua Tagovailoa

The QB set career-highs in passing yards, TDs and completion percentage last season

‘I think it’s important to recognize that we have a congruence of interest by the Dolphins and the player – Tua – that both parties really want him to play at a very high level for a long time for the Miami Dolphins,’ McDaniel said in February.

Tagovailoa missed the Pro Bowl at the beginning of February because he still remained in the concussion protocol, which he entered for the second time last season on December 26 after suffering a concussion during the Dolphins’ loss to the Green Bay Packers on Christmas Day.

He missed the final three games of the regular season, as well as Miami’s wild card playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Tagovailoa was previously concussed in a Week 4 loss to Cincinnati on a play that knocked him unconscious and caused him to be stretchered off the field.

That was four days after he was allowed to return to a game against Buffalo after he appeared disoriented following a hit.

Many have expressed concerns for Tagovailoa’s future in the league following a suspected three concussions this season with analyst Stephen A Smith claiming his NFL career is in jeopardy. 

Head coach Mike McDaniel publicly committed to Tagovailoa since the end of the season

Tagovailoa entered concussion protocol for a second time on December 25 against Green Bay

He suffered a concussion against the Bengals after a tackle left him unconscious in Week 4

But Grier had insisted that Tagovailoa’s injury record would not stop the team committing to him in 2023. 

‘It’s not something that is going to make us afraid to do something long-term with him,’ Grier said. ‘The one thing he’s had, he’s been banged up, but he always comes back and bounces back and plays hard and performs, so excited for his future.’ 

The general manager also said the organization does not believe Tagovailoa is at any higher risk for concussions moving forward, following conversations with doctors and specialists.

Earlier this week, NFL Network anchor Rich Eisen said he heard rumors of Tom Brady returning to play for the Miami Dolphins while at the combine. 

45-year-old Brady, who announced his retirement for a second time, swiftly shutdown those rumors. 

NFL Network anchor Rich Eisen said he heard rumors of Tom Brady returning to play for Miami

45-year-old Brady shutdown talk of him coming out of retirement for a second time this week

The seven-time Super Bowl winner claimed his family’s new addition – his 10-year-old daughter Vivian’s new kitten – was taking too much of his time for him to consider a return to the turf. 

Despite Brady’s insistence, former New England quarterback Scott Zolak, who currently serves as a Patriots radio broadcaster, wasn’t buying it. 

He claimed that Brady coming out of retirement for a second time to ply his trade in Miami is still on the table.  

‘Brady may go to Miami,’ Zolak said on NBC Sports Boston. ‘I think that’s in play. I do. I think the possibility of him coming out of retirement is definitely 100 percent in play.