McDaniel: Tua won't fully participate in camp, contract negotiations 'fluid'
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa won't be a full participant in training camp amid extension talks.
"Tua is in the midst of a contract negotiation," McDaniel told reporters. "That's important to him and the football team. That being said, we communicate very well, and it's very fluid. We're taking it day by day. Today, I'm expecting it to be kind of like OTAs, and we'll move on from there."
McDaniel added that he isn't worried that the negotiations will distract his team. Tagovailoa has rotated in and out of Miami's OTA practices.
The Alabama product set career highs in completions (388), passing yards (4,624), and touchdowns (29) last campaign. Miami's offense took the league by storm under Tua, finishing third in points per game and fourth in EPA/play.
However, Tagovailoa and Miami's passing offense faltered down the stretch, ranking 16th in dropback EPA/play from Week 14 on. The Dolphins' offense had no answers for the Chiefs' defense in the wild-card round, totaling only six points and 264 yards.
Tagovailoa, 26, was selected fifth overall in the 2020 draft. Fellow 2020 draftees Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, and Jalen Hurts have all received long-term extensions.
"He wants the contract done, and he knows that there's different things that evolve if there's not," McDaniel added. "Everybody is trying their best to get a deal done. We have to rely on that and hope."
Tagovailoa is 32-19 in his career, racking up 12,369 passing yards with 81 touchdowns and 37 interceptions.