(CNN) — The Miami Dolphins formally exercised quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s fifth-12 months selection on his rookie contract on Monday.
The 24-year-outdated is now contracted with the team through the 2024 period. He will be assured $23.2 million for the 2024 year, according to the NFL.
Tagovailoa was the NFL’s maximum-rated passer final season with a 105.5 ranking, becoming the youngest player to direct the league in passer ranking given that former Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino did so in 1984.
Having said that, inspite of exhibiting flashes of the promise the Dolphins saw in him coming out of Alabama, Tagovailoa had a tumultuous time final yr, significantly down to his battles with head accidents.
Tagovailoa experienced three concussions throughout the 12 months, boosting scrutiny about the NFL’s concussion protocols.
His wellness scares begun September 25 in a activity versus the Buffalo Expenses, when Tagovailoa stumbled backward and fell for the duration of a perform, hitting his head on the turf. Even though he at first stood up on his individual, Tagovailoa then staggered and experienced to be assisted by two teammates.
Tagovailoa was taken out of the sport, evaluated by health professionals and authorized to return immediately after halftime. Later, both the NFL and the NFL Players Association concluded that concussion protocols were correctly adopted.
But four days later on, in a match from the Cincinnati Bengals, Tagovailoa was wounded all over again in a frightening on the lookout incident, carted off the area and taken via ambulance to a nearby clinic. This time, he was diagnosed with a concussion. Days later on, the NFLPA fired the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant included in the determination to enable Tagovailoa return in the match from the Charges.
On Christmas versus the Environmentally friendly Bay Packers, it took place once more. This time, Tagovailoa was not evaluated for the duration of the match — the diagnosis came the upcoming working day after he showed concussion-like symptoms. The Dolphins shut Tagovailoa down for the relaxation of the period, meaning he skipped the Dolphins’ playoffs recreation versus the Bills. Two concussions developing close alongside one another can have permanently disabling results, according to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.
Gamers sustained 149 concussions in games this season — an 18% raise over 2021, the NFL mentioned past week. That full also is 14% bigger than the a few-12 months average (130) concerning 2018 and 2020.
The league’s main health care officer attributed the increase in portion to a protocol modify that he stated “broadened and strengthened” the definition of a concussion adhering to Tagovailoa’s accidents previously in the time.
Tagovailoa was the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft out of Alabama. He has performed in 36 job video games with 34 starts, completing 708-of-1,078 profession passes for 8,015 yards and 52 touchdowns.
In 2022, Tagovailoa was voted a group captain and received the Don Shula Leadership Award, picked by his teammates.
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