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Tua Tagovailoa says he plans to take judo classes to learn how to fall better

Tua Tagovailoa

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said that he plans to take judo this offseason to learn how to fall better.

It’s one thing that Tagovailoa is planning to do to avoid more head injuries after suffering two confirmed concussions during the 2022 season.

“We got a plan set up,” Tagovailoa said. “And I’ll be doing judo on Fridays just so that I can kinda figure out understanding my body and how to fall and things like that.”

This is good news for the Dolphins and their fans, as Tagovailoa seems to be taking extra precaution to protect himself from head injuries next season.

The former first-round pick missed a few games this season because of the two concussions he suffered. The first one came in Week 4 against the Cincinnati Bengals, and the second was in Week 16 against the Green Bay Packers.

The head injuries are certainly something that the Dolphins need to monitor closely going forward, as the team doesn’t want Tagovailoa to sustain any long-term health issues because of them.

The second concussion was an extremely tough pill for the Dolphins to swallow, as it effectively ended their chances at a deep playoff run.

The 24-year-old was by far the Dolphins’ best option at quarterback in the 2022 season, as he threw for 3,548 yards, 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 13 games.

Tagovailoa’s second concussion thrust Teddy Bridgewater into a starting role, but he was promptly injured in Week 17 against the New England Patriots. That left the Dolphins’ season in the hands of seventh-round rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson.

While Thompson helped the team win in Week 18, the Dolphins were knocked out of the playoffs by the Buffalo Bills in their first postseason game.

Thompson kept Miami in the game against the Bills, but he doesn’t have the skills that Tagovailoa possesses to truly make Miami an elite offense. For example, Tagovailoa was great at making passes for large gains this season, leading the NFL in yards gained per pass attempt and yards gained per pass completion.

The University of Alabama product was very recently cleared from the league’s concussion protocol and seems to be in good spirits ahead of a big offseason.

Miami is hoping that he can build on the success of the 2022 season in the 2023 campaign and lead it to a deeper playoff run.