MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was asked about how his game compares now to his days at Alabama.
Unsurprisingly, four days before a “Monday Night Football” home game against the Jets, Tua cited running ability.
”I think one of the biggest changes and differences that I felt would have been some of the surgeries that l’ve had, that I can kind of feel some of the residuals within my ankles,” Tagovailoa said. “And, you know, I was running a little different when I was at Alabama and, you know, it’s just not the same. And that, you know, I think that’s normal, given the surgeries.”
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Tua Tagovailoa acknowledges impact of ankle surgeries at Alabama
Tagovailoa conceded he just hasn’t played his best football in 2025.
“I haven’t played anywhere near the standard that I’ve played in years past knowing the standard that I can play to,” Tua said. “And it starts with me, you know, with the offense getting our guys going. And then the defense been able to feed off of that as well, right?”
Tagovailoa suggested the start to this season does not feel as bad as some past ones.
“Well, I would say when we went one and seven, the look of our team was totally different than the team we have now,” Tagovailoa said. “I think for that season, it was just, man, we’re just going to grind this out and we’re going to have to keep going. And if we keep going, maybe we give ourselves a chance, maybe we give ourselves an opportunity. I don’t feel where that deep yet into the season where guys need to start panicking.”
Cam Newton criticism
Tua was asked about how criticism of his play is filtered through the lens of his $53 million contract.
Recently, former NFL quarterback Cam Newton compared Tua’s salary to other upper-echelon signal-callers.
Tagovailoa said: “Then I mean I want to see anybody on the streets come play quarterback. I mean Cam, Cam’s doing his thing for sure. You know, I think it’s easier to be able to hold a clicker and talk about it that way, or talk about what someone else is doing wrong when you’re you’re not going out and having to do the same as them.”
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe’s free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa says Alabama ankle surgeries may be impacting him today
Reporting by Joe Schad, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
