Tua vows to 'stay available' after 2024 injuries

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa knows he needs to focus on limiting risk in order to stay healthy this season.

"Doing everything I can to stay available for the guys. ... It's knowing when is the time to give up on a play," Tagovailoa said Tuesday, according to ESPN's Marcel-Louis Jacques. "And I would say the longevity for me to be on the field with my guys is more important than whatever that one play is."

The star passer also stressed the importance of offseason practice in helping him determine when to extend plays and when to play for another down.

"I think that's why you have practice, and it starts in practice," Tagovailoa said.

He added: "Just throw it away or run and then just stop to signify it to slide, if you will, but I think it's the transition and focus of bringing that game-like feel into practice."

Tagovailoa missed six games last season and suffered the third concussion of his career. He's missed 11 contests since 2022 due to injuries.

However, the 27-year-old signal-caller led the league with 4,624 passing yards in 2023, and he threw for 29 touchdowns to earn his first career Pro Bowl nod. He's also entering the first year of a four-year, $212.4-million extension.

With all of Tua's talent and his new deal, head coach Mike McDaniel says he's reinforced the message that Tagovailoa needs to remain healthy.

"I, like everyone else, really want him to be healthy," McDaniel said. "You have a franchise quarterback, you want him to play instead of standing on the sideline."

The Dolphins signed Zach Wilson and drafted Quinn Ewers to bolster their depth behind Tagovailoa ahead of the 2025 season.

Miami went 2-4 without Tagovailoa last season and 6-5 with him. The Dolphins missed the playoffs with an 8-9 record after posting back-to-back winning seasons during the first two years of McDaniel's tenure.