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NFL Sophomore Watch: Tua Tagovailoa might be traded

By Andrew Fischer

Oct 17, 2021; London, England, United Kingdom; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) throws the ball in the first half against the Jacksonville Jaguars during an NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2021; London, England, United Kingdom; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) throws the ball in the first half against the Jacksonville Jaguars during an NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Alabama injured quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) talks with offensive lineman Landon Dickerson (69) before the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., on Wednesday January 1, 2020.Tuac01
Alabama injured quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) talks with offensive lineman Landon Dickerson (69) before the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., on Wednesday January 1, 2020.Tuac01 /

The Injury

On the play in question, Tua Tagovailoa took the shotgun snap, held the ball, was pressured, rolled to his left and threw the ball away. Two Mississippi State defenders were pursuing him and they both fell on him simultaneously as he was releasing the ball. Tua fell forward onto his knees, and the subsequent impact from the two defenders falling on top him caused his hip to dislocate and a fracture to the hip’s posterior wall. His helmet came off and he also suffered a broken nose and concussion on the same play.

The hip injury was so severe that it was similar to those that occur in serious car accidents where a person’s knee slams into the dashboard and jams the femur bone back into the hip. Tagovailoa was taken to a hospital, and some have categorized the injury as similar to the one that ended Bo Jackson’s career. The chief difference between Tua Tagovailoa and Bo Jackson’s hip injuries are the passage of time and advances in medical knowledge. The Alabama trainers knew almost immediately what the problem was, and they reset Tua’s hip as soon as he got back to the locker room, a mere 5 minutes after the injury occurred. Doing this prevented blood flow issues and dramatically reduced the risk of long-term complications. Tagovailoa had surgery two days later in Houston and he was ruled out for the rest of the season.

But prior to this catastrophic injury, Tua Tagovailoa had suffered several other minor injuries that might give credence to those who might label him injury prone. In March 2018 Tua broke his finger after he dinged it on a linemen’s helmet after throwing a pass. In October of 2018 he sprained his knee against Missouri but didn’t miss any time. In December of 2018 Tua got his foot stepped on by one of his own linemen and he suffered a high ankle sprain. Those watching that game might remember that this happened in the SEC Championship Game where Jalen Hurts came off the bench and led Alabama to the victory. Tua got a “tightrope procedure” to heal his ankle, and he was able to play in Alabama’s playoff game against Oklahoma on December 29th.

In October of 2019 Tua Tagovailoa suffered a high ankle sprain to the same ankle he injured during the SEC Championship Game, and he again elected to have a tightrope procedure performed. Then in November of 2019 Tua suffered the devastating season-ending injury to his hip that ended his season and eventually his Alabama career. In January of 2020 he announced he would be declaring for the NFL Draft. He finished his career at Alabama with a 22-2 record as a starter and set the NCAA records for passer efficiency rating, touchdown pass percentage, and average yards gained per play.

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