Tua Tagovailoa’s Concerning Comments About Miami Dolphins WR Odell Beckham Jr.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — It’s been 97 days since Odell Beckham Jr. signed with the Miami Dolphins, and yet the three-time Pro Bowler still has not seen the practice field due to a mysterious injury that predated his time with the organization.

With the regular season just 26 days off, that needs to change — and soon — if the Dolphins can confidently rely on him early in the season.

That’s not just us on the outside saying that. It’s a sentiment that Tua Tagovailoa hinted at during his weekly news conference Tuesday.

Concerns Mount With Miami Dolphins WR Odell Beckham Jr.

Tagovailoa told reporters that, while he’s thrown passes to Beckham over the last three months, it’s just been “spot catching, him getting to see the way the ball spins, get a feel of it.”

When asked what gives him confidence that Beckham will hit the ground running when he’s able to return, Tagovailoa replied:

“Well, I tell you what, I think it’s more confidence for him once he’s able to start running and catching balls, and seeing it in that sense with guys across from him. It’s a whole other thing to do that.

“Then also, he has to know where to line up, and then what that play is, if he has a motion or if he doesn’t have a motion. So that’s where I think we’ll be one of the tougher parts. And it’s not just for him. It’s for everyone and anyone trying to get to know the playbook in this offense.”

One more comment from Tagovailoa that should give outsiders pause about Beckham’s availability for the opener:

“I’ve got to see him catching and running routes with our guys first and getting into the mix first before I can say anything. What I can tell you, though, is the guys out there, they’ve been working their ass off in this heat, and they’ve been studying, and like I said, it’s not an easy offense to learn, so I just want to commend the guys that are out there.

“It’s hard because there’s a lot of guys that are also down, too. So the guys that are out there right now, I commend them for what they are doing. So hopefully we can, God willing, we can stay healthy and continue to stay healthy throughout this year for all of our positions.”

As Tagovailoa mentioned, the Dolphins have had a brutal stretch of injury luck at the wide receiver position this summer.

Beckham is on the physically unable to perform list, rookie Tahj Washington is on injured reserve, and Jaylen Waddle has been out of action for more than a week with what’s believed to be a minor issue.

Braxton Berrios and Erik Ezukanma both missed time earlier in camp but returned to practice this week.

The many moving parts have taken its toll on the offense’s production. Dolphins quarterbacks combined for a 45.1 passer rating and a 38.7% completion percentage in last Friday’s preseason opener.

Tagovailoa didn’t play in that game, but he got lots of reps in practice Tuesday, and the passing game was still ragged.

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There were multiple miscommunications and missed assignments throughout the steamy session, and Tagovailoa was spotted at least once getting in the ear of his receivers after a particularly ugly passing play.

The Dolphins have one more solo practice before welcoming the Washington Commanders on Thursday for a joint session and then an exhibition game. Would it even be worth Mike McDaniel putting Tua at risk if he’ll be throwing to a bunch of guys who might not make the team?

“[McDaniel] gets with the leaders, you know, of the team who guys who have established themselves and guys who have, you know, earned the respect of the guys in the locker room,” Tagovailoa said. [He] gets with those guys and has a conversation with them, and, you know, ‘We’re all playing,’ or ‘Maybe not this one,’ or ‘We’ll see what that looks like.’

“Hopefully, we do get that opportunity. It’ll be good because this is our last one at home before we go to Tampa, and then we actually start the season.”

UPDATED (Aug. 14): McDaniel told reporters Wednesday this about Beckham: “What I don’t want, and what I know Odell doesn’t want, is getting on the grass and then leaving it.”

More Miami Dolphins Injury News

Running back Salvon Ahmed and cornerback Cam Smith are back in the mix after missing multiple practices with minor injuries earlier in camp. Both Ahmed and Smith did 11-on-11 work on Tuesday.

Smith’s return, combined with Ethan Bonner’s absence the last two days, has added new juice to the team’s CB4 battle.

Smith will have a real opportunity to make a move, particularly with Jalen Ramsey apparently banged up. Ramsey has not practiced the last two days. Safeties Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer dressed for practice but did not participate in 11-on-11s.

Other Dolphins players who did practice Tuesday: Running back Jeff Wilson Jr.; linebacker Anthony Walker Jr.; EDGE Mohamed Kamara; center Aaron Brewer; wide receiver Anthony Schwartz; and tight end Tanner Conner and Jody Fortson Jr.