Tua Tagovailoa spent much of last offseason bulking up in hopes of avoiding injuries, but the Miami Dolphins quarterback has taken the opposite approach heading into 2024.
Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reported on Tuesday that Tagovailoa has lost 10-15 pounds since last season. The former Alabama star is back down to around 220 pounds, with the hope being that he will gain a bit of mobility.
“He’s down to 220 pounds from what I understand. He dropped 10-15 pounds this offseason already from the 230s where he was last year,” Wolfe said. “He wants to be agile (and have) a little more escapability from the bulked-up version that was in the 230s last year.”
I’m told Tua Tagovailoa dropped 10-15 pounds — down to 220 pounds, his ideal playing weight this year — seeking more agility/escapability
Here’s why lower weight doesn’t mean more injury concern for Dolphins. Talking Tua w/ @TomPelissero & @judybattista @nflnetwork The Insiders: pic.twitter.com/UL8Bxa9ejJ
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) May 21, 2024
Tagovailoa was criticized by one ESPN analyst over his weight last summer.
The big question is whether the pounds Tagovailoa added last year helped him avoid injuries. Wolfe says the Dolphins are not concerned about that, as Tagovailoa has used jiu-jitsu and other training methods to help him change the way he falls. Tagovailoa played in 17 games last season after dealing with multiple concussions in 2022
When healthy, Tagovailoa has played at a high level in Mike McDaniel’s offense. That is why Tua is in line for a big contract extension, and it seems like he is trending toward securing one.
