Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa struggled with injuries during his time at Alabama. John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Are Tua Tagovailoa's injury issues worse than previously believed?

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 4/9/20

It's no secret Alabama Crimson Tide standout quarterback Tua Tagovailoa dealt with a handful of injury woes during his collegiate career. Multiple NFL insiders fear Tagovailoa may be even less healthy than assumed.

On Wednesday's edition ESPN's "Get Up," former NFL head coach and ESPN analyst Rex Ryan compared the one-time national champion starter to New Orleans Saints signal-caller and future Hall of Famer Drew Brees.

"Tua, to me, that is Drew Brees," Ryan said. "He's accurate as heck like Drew Brees. He moves the pocket like Drew Brees."

Ryan added: "Is there risk involved? Oh my gosh, is there a risk involved. There's five surgeries that I've been told that he's had. So absolutely it's a risk if you take Tua."

As Dave Hyde of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel explained, it's been previously reported that Tagovailoa underwent three operations while at Alabama.

On March 28, Hyde reported that three current NFL GMs told him they would not draft Tagovailoa with a top-five pick in next month's draft.

There's more. Also on Wednesday, former NFL executive Michael Lombardi revealed information about Tagovailoa's health during an edition of "The GM Shuffle" podcast.

The question to be asked is not is Tua healthy, rather can Tua stay healthy? Being cleared to play and being able to play are two different circumstances.

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Brady talking to Stern
QBs in the Draft since 02. https://t.co/rYm5U2bf8v
— Michael Lombardi (@mlombardiNFL) April 8, 2020

"It’s not just his hip, Lombardi explained. "It’s his ankle. It’s his wrist. He broke his wrist the first day of spring ball one year. … He’s brittle. He is brittle. You can’t deny it."

Per Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, Lombardi added: "That’s got to get around that at least one team failed the physical on Tua others have to be concerned now as well."

"I’m saying they flunked him on not just the hip, but on a multitude of injuries. The risk far outweighs the reward," Lombardi added.

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