NFL Fans Thought a Bulked-Up Tua Tagovailoa Looked a Lot Different at Dolphins Practice

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was back practicing with his teammates this week for the first time since he was injured in a Christmas Day loss to the Packers, and one thing instantly stood out: He looked a lot different physically.

The former Alabama star, who entered concussion protocol three times last season and missed the team’s final three games of the year, has apparently bulked up during the offseason and looks to be a lot stronger. He’s also sporting a different helmet to help prevent any more head injuries.

NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe had some details on the changes:

Tua Tagovailoa returned to the field bigger & stronger gaining several pounds, I’m told, and donning a new helmet.

Hope is the changes + Tua’s jiu jitsu training help him stay healthy so Dolphins reach potential as 💨 elite offense & contender.

From @nflnetwork @NFLTotalAccess: pic.twitter.com/K3uSPVApbK
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) May 23, 2023

Tagovailoa definitely looked different here:

A handful of Tua Tagovailoa’s early OTA practice throws in his 1st week of full team drills since Christmas last year. pic.twitter.com/igfHIfRawj
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) May 23, 2023

Here's how he used to look:

Tua used to look like a kicker bro. Thank god he bulked.

Tired of this endless discourse. 🤬 pic.twitter.com/120i5MaOqQ
— #1 UCE Fan (@EliteTua) May 23, 2023

Here are some details on his new helmet:

Tua Tagovailoa is officially wearing the new Vicis Zero2 Matrix QB helmet this season, which was approved by the NFL to try and help reduce QB concussions pic.twitter.com/JqstGkp7B1
— Bussin' With The Boys (@BussinWTB) May 23, 2023

Fans had reactions:

Tua built 👀💪💪. Milano gonna get run over by Tua or whatever Buffalo bills player tries too go after him. pic.twitter.com/9F8fDBl48z
— Keith mcclendon (@KeithMcclendo55) May 23, 2023

is it just me or is Tua looking STRONG https://t.co/E7OyYF5t2v
— Evan (@evaneleven77) May 24, 2023

Tua LOOKS THICC.

I double taked watching a practice vid.

“Is that AJ Dillon tossing passes?” pic.twitter.com/Co5eZEfB4r
— Derek Brown (@DBro_FFB) May 23, 2023