Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is probably coming back to the Miami Dolphins this season, but how much longer he’ll play for the team — or in the NFL at all — is a matter of serious debate.
Greg Cote of the Miami Herald suggested on the Tuesday, October 1 edition of the “Dan LeBatard Show with Stugotz” that Tagovailoa’s next concussion is likely to be the last of his career.
The 26-year-old suffered two confirmed concussions in 2022, played all 17 games healthy last season and then sustained another confirmed head trauma against the Buffalo Bills nearly three weeks ago, which landed him on the injured reserve list (IR).
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
© Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images
Barry Jackson, Cote’s colleague at the Herald, doubled down the following day by imploring the Dolphins to install a capable backup behind Tagovailoa to guard against another concussion in the future.
Jackson rolled through an array of possibilities for Miami, focusing on next offseason as the most likely acquisition point rather than ahead of the November 5 trade deadline. However, he landed on three names as the most likely/suitable.
“Russell Wilson, [Jameis] Winston and [Mac] Jones could be the best options for Miami from that group, figuring [Sam] Darnold will get a starting opportunity elsewhere,” Jackson wrote on October 2.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson.
Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
All three men are currently backups — Wilson with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Winston with the Cleveland Browns and Jones with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Wilson is an eight-time Pro Bowler and former Super Bowl winner with by far the best resume of the three, though he is also the oldest, turning 36 later this year.
He is currently on a $1.2 million league-minimum deal with the Steelers after the Denver Broncos released him over the offseason as part of an agreement in which they are forced to pay $37.8 million of the $39 million the QB is owed in 2024.
Given how inexpensive Wilson would be to the Dolphins for the remainder of this year there is some logic in the team trying to acquire him ahead of the trade deadline, which is set for roughly one month from today.
However, Miami would have to sacrifice a trade asset to do so, possibly even something as high as a fourth- or fifth-round pick, which may only make sense if the team believes it can still compete this year and that Tagovailoa won’t be a part of the huddle for several games to come.
