Report: Miami Dolphins Aiming to Start Tua Tagovailoa by December

Ever since the Miami Dolphins selected Tua Tagovailoa with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, fans have wondered when they’ll get to see the prized rookie line up under center.

While some reports have indicated that Tagovailoa will have the job by Week 1, others have indicated that the team will take its time with the quarterback.

According to a recent report, the Dolphins are targeting the month of December when it comes to handing over the reins to the University of Alabama standout.

Beyond that, the report also indicated that Tagovailoa is well ahead of schedule in regards to his injury rehab.

“According to a source with knowledge of the team’s thinking, the Dolphins could allow Tagovailoa to take the reigns from starter Ryan Fitzpatrick sometime in December,” Anthony DiMoro of Pro Football Network wrote. “Further, numerous sources have told Pro Football Network that Tua is much healthier than people realize and that he is quite ahead of schedule in his rehab process.”

Both nuggets in the report should come as great news to Dolphins fans. First off, the fact that Tagovailoa is enjoying a speedy recovery from the injuries he sustained in his final collegiate season is great news.

It was concerns over those injuries that likely led to Tagovailoa falling to the fifth pick earlier this year.

Secondly, the report of a targeted month for Tagovailoa’s first start signals that the Dolphins are taking their time to lay out a plan regarding his progression. While rushing a rookie quarterback along is not necessarily a bad move, letting him gain comfort in the league for a few months makes a lot of sense.

Whatever happens, the hope is that Tagovailoa will dazzle early and often once he finally does take the field.