As the Miami Dolphins approach the start of their offseason program on April 17, the chances of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa getting back to work with his NFL teammates during the voluntary activities appear promising.

Tagovailoa missed the Dolphins’ final three games of the 2022 season – the second time the former Alabama All-American had been sidelined by a concussion during the campaign.

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During the AFC coaches breakfast at the NFL’s annual meeting on Monday in Phoenix, Miami coach Mike McDaniel had encouraging words about Tagovailoa’s offseason work.

“All the best things that you could possibly hear,” McDaniel said about his reports on Tagovailoa’s recovery from 2022 and preparation for 2023. “… This is not something that for a lot of people it happened, and then you’re like, all of a sudden, maybe thinking about it as the OTAs start again. This is something that our training staff and Tua have been attacking every day.

“He’s in a great spot. I’m really encouraged about the work that he’s doing for preventative injuries with his core and his neck training. His jiu jitsu stuff has been outstanding. So doing all the things that we can control to best position us, and he’s in a great place because of that. He’s excited.”

Because both of Tagovailoa’s concussions appeared to have occurred when the back of his helmet hit the ground, the quarterback is using the martial arts to learn how to fall better.

McDaniel said he hadn’t watched Tagovailoa at a jiu jitsu lesson because he didn’t want to violate inadvertently the NFL’s rules about offseason contact between coaches and players.

“Am I coaching if I’m watching jiu jitsu?” McDaniel said. “That’s kind of a violation, right? I can talk to Tua, but I can’t talk about football, so I’ve had the people that I trust get it back to me, so I didn’t violate any procedural issues.”

McDaniel told NFL Network that the Dolphins are looking forward to Tagovailoa progressing in his fourth NFL season, but his second with McDaniel and his offensive coaching staff.

“He’s very healthy, vibrant, and I can see a hunger in him that I’m excited to watch play out,” McDaniel said. “… He’s got a lot of room to grow, let’s just say that. He did an unbelievable job being able to lead an offense in Year 1. That’s a new language. This is his first year where he’s going to have continued offense, play-caller and position coach.”

While Tagovailoa prepares for the 2023 season, the Dolphins already are preparing for him to be their quarterback in 2024. On March 20, Miami exercised its option for a fifth season on the four-year contract that Tagovailoa signed as the fifth pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. By picking up their option, the Dolphins are keeping the QB out of free agency after this season and guaranteeing Tagovailoa $23.171 million for the 2024 season.

“The bottom line procedure was like, ‘All right, well, the scenario of picking up the fifth-year option gives Tua the best chance to be his best and is the best thing for the organization,’” McDaniel said. “That’s what we’re really chasing. We’re chasing that – where both parties maximized an opportunity.”

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.