MIAMI GARDENS — When a bulked-up version of Tua Tagovailoa turned up for Dolphins training camp last year, the thinking was that a quarterback who looked more sturdy would be more sturdy, especially coupled with his jiu-jitsu training.

The result: Tagovailoa didn’t miss a game in 2023.

But today, Tagovailoa is, according to coach Mike McDaniel, “svelte.” We don’t know how many pounds Tagovailoa has dropped. The Dolphins list him at 227 pounds — exactly how he was listed last season, even though the eye test says that cannot be.

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Clearly a trimmed-down Tagovailoa will be better equipped to extend plays by eluding the pass rush. But what about when he is unable to elude a defender? Will he be at greater risk of injury?

The Dolphins don’t believe so.

First, McDaniel sought to clarify what he called “a very understandable misconception” on Tuesday. McDaniel said the goal last season was to put Tagovailoa on a weight program to add strength. It wasn't to put him in a virtual suit of armor. While the Dolphins will gladly take the fact that Tagovailoa started every game, the focus today has shifted.

“The unintended consequences for him personally and how he saw his game, his strength increased, but he felt like he could have the same amount of strength and kind of reshape his body and be a little lighter on his feet,” McDaniel said. “So it's kind of the natural evolution of you get stronger, and then you really pay attention to your diet and and you know, the times that you're eating and when your caloric intake is.”

So McDaniel envisions Tagovailoa being “a little more limber within the pocket” in 2024.

Tagovailoa has hired ex-Dolphins quarterback John Beck as his personal quarterback coach. McDaniel pointed out that he was an assistant coach in Washington in 2011 when Beck was a member of the team.

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“John knows what we’re trying to do and how we ask the quarterback to play,” McDaniel said.

Tagovailoa made the Pro Bowl for the first time last season, but McDaniel said he and his quarterback are aiming for the same amount of improvement from Tagovailoa in their third year together.

“I think for us to expect just as much if not more (improvement) from Year 2 to Year 3 is very safe in our expectations and I know he feels the same way, too,” McDaniel said.

Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at  hhabib@pbpost.com. Follow him on social media @gunnerhal. Click here to subscribe.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dolphins don't think ‘svelte' Tua Tagovailoa may be susceptible to injury