Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel confirmed Monday that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had been absent from the team’s voluntary offseason program. Tagovailoa played in Nick Saban’s golf tournament on Tuesday and was not at the facility. McDaniel would not reveal whether Tagovailoa’s absence was contract related. “I don’t make a habit of speaking for other people’s mouths,” McDaniel said, adding that he would let Tagovailoa speak for himself.
Cameron Wolfe of NFL Media reports that despite not being in the facility, Tagovailoa has been working hard to improve his game. He has lost “10 to 15 pounds” this offseason, putting him around 220 pounds, which is a significant drop from the 217 pounds he weighed at the 2020 Scouting Combine. Wolfe also notes that Tagovailoa added weight during the 2023 offseason and took jiu-jitsu after multiple concussions the previous season. Now, he is seeking to be “a little more agile” and add “a little more escapability” in 2024, Wolfe reports.
In 2023, Tagovailoa started every game of a season for the first time and led the league with 4,624 passing yards while also throwing for career-highs in touchdowns (29) and interceptions (14). Despite his impressive performance on the field, it remains to be seen how much impact his absence from the team facility will have on his preparation for next season.
