Dolphins: What does not starting mean for rookie Tua Tagovailoa?

The Dolphins have opted to start Ryan Fitzpatrick over Tua Tagovailoa

When the Miami Dolphins selected Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with the fifth pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the speculation regarding his debut immediately began. Tagovailoa is recovering from a hip injury that ended his college career in November. There was constant debate during the draft process about his long term projection. Ultimately, the Dolphins decided that the injury did not concern them.

When training camp began, Tagovailoa was already behind the eight ball. Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen had already been on the roster while he was in the draft process. Fitzpatrick has previously worked with offensive coordinator Chan Gailey in both New York and Buffalo. Combine all that with the less than ideal circumstances during the 2020 off-season, and it was a very unfavorable situation for the young signal caller.

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The Dolphins decided to release the aforementioned Rosen last week, essentially guaranteeing Tagovailoa the backup job. Fitzpatrick missed multiple days of training camp due to personal reasons, and the practices were awful by all accounts. It was evident that neither Rosen nor Tagovailoa was ready to start. The practices were plagued by bad decisions and plays that would be turnovers in a real game.

After Rosen was released, the team announced that veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick would be the starter in week one against the New England Patriots. The move was widely expected throughout the off-season. There is truly no reason to rush Tua into action with a shortened off-season and an offensive line that may have five new starters. There is even speculation that the rookie quarterback could spend the entire season on the sideline.

What this means for Tua Tagovailoa

What does this mean for Tua Tagovailoa? It means that the organization is being patient with him. They have made a huge investment in him and, like any rational person, will be taking the experience one day at a time. Taking a measured approach with the young quarterback and not throwing him into the fire right away will benefit him in the long run.

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Whether it’s week eight or next season, Tua Tagovailoa will eventually get the keys to the franchise. The entire rebuild has been about finding a franchise quarterback. They believe that they have theirs, and they will not jeopardize him, especially with a veteran on the roster who knows the offense and is beloved by the team.

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