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Is Tua Starting in Week 1 a 'Foregone Conclusion'?

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa continues to be the subject of much debate when it comes to his playing status for the 2020 season

Alain Poupart

The big debate as to when and how much first-round pick Tua Tagovailoa should play as a rookie for the Miami Dolphins continues, and it's likely to keep going until the start of the regular season.

While most of the debate in the weeks after the draft centered more around whether the Dolphins should redshirt Tagovailoa in 2020, there's also been some conversation as to whether Tua could be in the lineup for the opener against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Sept. 13.

A longtime NFL columnist believes that's actually not much of a debate, based on his conversations with coaches around the league.

"According to every coach I've spoken to, it's a forgone conclusion that he will beat out veteran journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick and start Week 1 against the Patriots on Sept. 13," Mike Freeman wrote in his weekly 10-point stance. "It's difficult to put into words how high some coaches are on Tagovailoa. They think that when we look back at this draft, he will be one of the best, if not the best, players from it.

"Tagovailoa's adaptability and smarts fuel their optimism, as they think he'll fit in any offensive system and will grow rapidly in the pros. His injury history is a legitimate concern, but these coaches believe in his ability to beat out Fitzpatrick and start right away."

I've maintained all along that there's no reason for the Dolphins to hold Tagovailoa back if he's ready to start Week 1, just as it makes no sense to rush him before he's fully ready from all aspects (physically, comfort level with the offense) because he's the long-term quarterback for this franchise.

Freeman's stance goes against the odds, which have Fitzpatrick as the favorite to start that Week 1 game at New England.

Fitzpatrick, who won team MVP honors in 2019, has repeated that he wants to start but will do everything he can to help Tagovailoa.

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Alain Poupart
ALAIN POUPART

Alain Poupart is the publisher/editor of All Dolphins and co-host of the All Dolphins Podcast. Alain has covered the Miami Dolphins on a full-time basis since 1989 for various publications and media outlets, including Dolphin Digest, The Associated Press, the Dolphins team website, and the Fan Nation Network (part of Sports Illustrated). In addition to being a credentialed member of the Miami Dolphins press corps, Alain has covered three Super Bowls (for NFL.com, Football News and the Montreal Gazette), the annual NFL draft, the Senior Bowl, and the NFL Scouting Combine. During his almost 40 years in journalism, which began at the now-defunct Miami News, Alain has covered practically every sport at one time or another, from tennis to golf, baseball, basketball and everything in between. The career also included time as a copy editor, including work on several books such as "Still Perfect," an inside look at the Miami Dolphins' 1972 perfect season. A native of Montreal, Canada, whose first language is French, Alain grew up a huge hockey fan but soon developed a love for all sports, including NFL football. He has lived in South Florida since the 1980s.

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