There have been a few issues with the Miami Dolphins over the past few years, but none have been more significant than Tua Tagovailoa dealing with injuries.
When Tagovailoa has been on the field, he's one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL. Perhaps he isn’t a top five to 10 quarterback in the league, but he's above average, and the Dolphins have been much better with him on the field than off.
Throwing for 4,624 yards and 29 touchdowns during the 2023 season, the hope was for him to come out in 2024 and continue to improve.
Instead, the Alabama product was injured again, missing multiple games and throwing for just 2,687 yards, 19 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
And it has led to some issues, frankly.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa walks onto the field prior to the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Hard Rock Stadium.
© Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images
Pro Football Focus writer Ryan Smith wonders how much longer the Dolphins will have patience with the 27-year-old.
"With a roster already facing depth concerns, the Dolphins can't afford another season derailed by quarterback injuries," Smith wrote. "Tagovailoa’s health will be one of the defining factors in Miami’s 2025 campaign, and another extended absence would raise serious questions about his long-term viability as the franchise’s $212.4 million investment."
If Tagovailoa goes down again during the 2025-26 campaign, moving on from him wouldn't be the worst idea for the Dolphins.
The issue, however, is that it seems unlikely that a team would want to take on his contract. If the Dolphins could find a way to move him and rebuild, that's what should happen.