TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA – NOVEMBER 09: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates throwing a touchdown pass during the second quarter against the LSU Tigers in the game at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
Tua Tagovailoa’s hip injury has been a major storyline prior to the NFL Draft. Those concerns have been eased with recent medical exam information.
The big question on Tua Tagovailoa’s hip now has an definite answer. Yes, he’s healthy.
Tagovailoa underwent a voluntary re-check to exam his hip on Thursday and the results were excellent, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport.
The former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback and 2018 Heisman runner-up sustained a hip injury November. Specifically, a dislocated hip and posterior hip wall fracture, ending his season. Tagovailoa also suffered a concussion on the play where he was hit by two defenders immediately after rolling out of the pocket to throw the ball away.
”They had to pop my hip in…I’m glad I don’t remember it,” Tagovailoa told Kirk Herbstreit in an interview.
After the injury, the player with expectations of being a top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft had his draft stock in jeopardy. Debates about whether Tagovailoa should stay in college to prove emerged. Ultimately, Tagovailoa decided to forgo his senior season and enter the 2020 NFL Draft.
This year, the most pro days were been canceled due to Coronavirus precautions. For Tagovailoa, his early April showcase was going to be a huge milestone, an important day for him as team’s may still be on the fence when it comes to his health. He’s been on record saying he felt 100 percent. With results on Thursday revealing his medical re-check is “overwhelmingly positive” this is a good sign for Tagovailoa’s camp and teams interested in drafting this prospect.
With Ohio native Joe Burrow being a near lock to be the top pick headed to Cincinnati Bengals, it seems that Tagovailoa will be taken off the board shortly after Burrow.
Tagovailoa certainly has shown signs he’s a special player. He tossed 76 touchdowns his final two seasons at Alabama. In the 2018 National Championship Game he came in cold to relieve an ineffective Jalen Hurts. Trailing 13-0 against the Georgia Bulldogs, Tagovailoa led the Crimson Tide to a 26-23 overtime win.
With no health issues standing in his way, it will be interesting to see what team will make the move to draft Tagovailoa.