UNDATED (AP) — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa says his surgically repaired hip feels 10 times better than last year.
He’s optimistic he’ll be much improved in Year 2, However, now 18 months removed from surgery for the hip injury that ended his Alabama career, Tagovailoa said he feels much better physically, and also has an improved grasp of the Dolphins’ playbook.
In other NFL news:
— Veteran NFL kicker Adam Vinatieri has told former teammate and SiriusXM radio host Pat McAfee that he plans to retire. The 48-year-old former Indianapolis Colt and New England Patriot is the NFL’s all-time leader with 2,673 points and 599 field goals. Vinatieri hasn’t played since missing three of four field goals in a 31-17 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Dec. 1, 2019.
— Commissioner Roger Goodell says the league expects full stadiums this season and players and staff are being encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Thirty of of 32 teams have approval to safely open at 100% capacity before the preseason schedule begins. The Colts and Broncos do not but are on a path to get approval before August.
— The league approved a rule change for player safety, expanding the prohibition for blocks below the waist. Rosters for training camp were set for a maximum of 90 players. The NFL and the Players Association also agreed to a salary cap ceiling of $208.2 million for 2022.
— 49ers running back Jeff Wilson Jr. will miss the start of the 2021 season after undergoing surgery on his injured knee. General manager John Lynch says Wilson injured his knee last week following practice and a weightlifting session.
— Former Saints head coach J.D. Roberts has died at age 88. Roberts became interim coach in November 1970 and served as head coach the next two years. He was Archie Manning’s first NFL coach and sent out Tom Dempsey to kick a then-NFL record 63-yard field goal as time expired in his first game.
