Alabama Football: Should the Dolphins worry about Tua Tagovailoa’s health?

Alabama football’s Tua Tagovailoa is one of the most exciting rookies. He does have an injury history but how much should the Dolphins worry?

Tua Tagovailoa’s injury history has many different layers. There is a certain amount of risk when you draft a quarterback; there is even more risk involved when you draft a quarterback with an injury history.

Todd McShay of ESPN’s First Draft Podcast makes the very accurate assessment that players who get hurt in college get hurt in the pros. He is correct. Deshaun Watson and Michael Vick are two examples of players who got hurt in college and then had injury issues in the pros.

Barton Simmons of CBS Sports’ Cover 3 Podcast makes the assertion teams should want to miss on a player because of injury rather than poor play reasoning why the Dolphins should take Tua over Justin Herbert.

The Dolphins decided the risk is worth the reward to take arguably the best quarterback in the draft. Here is a rundown of Tua’s injury history while at Alabama:

• March 2018: Broken right index finger
• October 2018: Sprained right knee
• December 2018: Left ankle sprain (surgery)
• October 2019: Right ankle sprain (surgery)
• November 2019: Dislocated right hip with posterior acetabular wall fracture (surgery)

These were Tua’s five most significant injuries during his two years as a starting quarterback at Alabama.

This is 2020 and we know how far medical science has come, especially in the field of sports medicine. The great Gayle Sayers plays more than six seasons if he played today. The argument for taking a risk on a player with this sort of injury history is none of the injuries are reoccurring so far.

Even still the Dolphins should do a few things to lower Tua’s risk of injury.

Shore up the offensive line, add weapons

The Dolphins spent three of their draft picks on the offensive line. The most important thing the Dolphins can do for Tua is to keep him upright. They drafted two tackles and a guard. Not only does Tua have an injury history, but he also is not that big (6-0, 217 pounds).

It was surprising the only offensive weapon the Dolphins drafted was Malcolm Perry in the seventh round. They do have DeVante Parker who was a 1,000-yard receiver last year and they have some good young running backs in Myles Gaskin and Samaje Perine.

They also added veteran guard Ereck Flowers and running back Jordan Howard in free agency.

Overpay Ryan Fitzpatrick

If he thinks he can be a starting quarterback in the league, Ryan Fitzpatrick is leaving Miami no matter what. The Dolphins took the risk of drafting a quarterback they know might not play 16 games every season. If that’s the case, you need a quarterback who can come off the bench and win games.

Fitzpatrick fits the bill there.

“Fitzmagic” might not be a full-time starting quarterback, but he can come in, command a huddle and win games for you. Because of Tua’s injury risk, Fitzpatrick’s asking price might increase.

Pay him. He is the best QB2 in the NFL.

Is the risk worth the reward? Time will tell, but if they want to maximize their success with Tua, they need to do what they can to protect their investment in him.