Doctor Says Tua Tagovailoa’s X-Rays Are “Pristine”

The doctor who oversaw Tua Tagovailoa‘s medical recheck earlier this month says his X-rays looked “pristine” (Twitter link via Stefania Bell of ESPN.com). It’s not uncommon to hear glowing recommendations from doctors and surgeons around this time of year, but Dr. Byrd served as an independent evaluator and the recheck was facilitated by the league office. 

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Byrd also told Bell that the Alabama star “looks as good as” anyone he’s ever seen five months removed from a major injury. The Titans doc has seen his fair share of injuries over the years, so that’s a strong statement.

This all jibes with what we’ve heard over the past few weeks, thanks in part to some amplification from the QB’s camp. On the whole, teams seem to be pretty comfortable with Tagovailoa’s current medical situation, despite the history with his hip, wrist, and ankle sprains. In the long run, questions still persist about his ability to withstand the rigors of the NFL and the big hits that come along with the pro game.

If not for the injuries, it’s possible that Tagovailoa would be in the running for tonight’s No. 1 overall pick. Instead, Joe Burrow appears locked in as the first name to be called.