MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Going through third-and-9 from the Arizona Cardinals’ 22-yard line Sunday, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa took the snap, wiggled away from a collapsed pocket and took off working to his left, towards the first-down marker.
It was Tagovailoa’s first sport since Week 2, when he suffered a concussion in opposition to the Buffalo Payments on an eerily comparable scramble to the one the Laborious Rock Stadium crowd was watching unfold. On that play, Tagovailoa completed his scramble by decreasing his helmet right into a Payments defender in an try to select up further yards and ended up with a five-week keep on injured reserve.
On Sunday, Tagovailoa picked up the primary down with ease and, with Cardinals cornerback Starling Thomas V closing in on him, slid safely close to the sideline to seal a 13-yard achieve.
Seeing Miami’s franchise quarterback shield himself from an pointless hit triggered the stadium to erupt with applause, ending with a fan sitting behind the other endzone placing down his “SLIDE TUA, SLIDE” signal. The quarterback, apparently, had gotten the message.
Sunday’s 28-27 loss to the Cardinals marked Tagovailoa’s return from his newest high-profile concussion and third of his five-year profession. The damage occurred on Sept. 12. He mentioned he hadn’t felt any concussion signs since Sept. 13, and even because the staff went 1-3 with out him, he watched from the sideline beneath direct orders from the Dolphins and medical doctors to relaxation and prioritize his well being.
Throughout his time on injured reserve, he remained near the staff, touring to away video games and watching from the sidelines as three completely different Dolphins quarterbacks tried and didn’t get an offense going that led the league in 2023. Tagovailoa met with coaches within the early morning to raised perceive sport and apply preparation. He heard former gamers, present head coaches and analysts debate his future within the NFL. He acquired a mandate from coach Mike McDaniel to concentrate on his household whereas he recovered. And, lastly, he was met with jubilation — and practically introduced teammates to tears — upon his return to apply final week.
“It has been irritating,” Tagovailoa mentioned Wednesday. “Irritating for certain, however I’ve tried to remain in it with conferences with the fellows, making an attempt to proceed to be the chief for guys … making an attempt to assist everybody.”
IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAGOVAILOA’S concussion in opposition to the Payments, Dolphins medical trainers attended to him for a couple of minutes earlier than he received up beneath his personal energy and walked to the sideline. He acquired a short remark and a kiss on the aspect of the top from McDaniel earlier than he continued into the locker room.
“I advised him he is the beginning quarterback of his household and to go within the locker room, take a deep breath and I am going to see you quickly,” McDaniel advised reporters the next day.
Miami’s locker room seemed shellshocked after the sport — a 31-10 loss. Backup quarterback Skylar Thompson, who got here in after Tagovailoa’s damage, mentioned he felt “sick” watching his teammate go down like he did. After the play, Tagovailoa had gone right into a fencing response — an unnatural and involuntary posturing of the higher extremities that signifies a traumatic mind damage — whereas he laid on the bottom.
Earlier than the media was allowed into the locker room, McDaniel mentioned Tagovailoa spoke with a number of of his teammates and tried to “preserve the fellows’ heads up.”
“It’s totally robust as a result of it is a very violent sport we play and any play will be your final,” Dolphins linebacker David Lengthy Jr. mentioned. “We have seen it earlier than. However we all know what we received on this sport for. We all know the highs and the lows that come out of it. And in case you are enjoying scared or plan for that, like making an attempt to keep away from that, then it messes up your sport. You must go on the market and be fearless and you are taking no matter comes with it.”
IN THE ROUGHLY 24 hours following his damage, Tagovailoa’s charity, The Tua Basis, acquired practically $18,000 price of donations by means of its web site.
Tagovailoa based the Tua Basis in 2021 shortly after the top of his rookie season with the Dolphins. Its web site describes the muse as a nonprofit group “devoted to the assist of youth initiatives, well being and wellness, and different charitable causes.”
Primarily based on the addresses of the donors, the muse advised ESPN the majority of the donations got here from the Buffalo space — a calling card of Payments followers over current years. Buffalo followers donated $1 million to an area kids’s hospital in honor of Payments quarterback Josh Allen’s grandmother in 2020. They gave greater than $415,000 to the Andy and Jordan Dalton Basis in 2017, and $360,000 to “Blessings in a Backpack” after Lamar Jackson was injured throughout a playoff sport in 2021, amongst different charitable ventures.
Tagovailoa wasn’t accessible to touch upon the gesture till he returned from injured reserve, however thanked the followers’ generosity after the Dolphins’ loss to the Cardinals on Sunday.
“It wasn’t one thing I used to be conscious of in the mean time. I do need to say an enormous thanks to these followers after which I used to be advised {that a} good quantity of them have been Payments followers, as effectively,” he mentioned. “It’s form of a love/hate factor. It is onerous to hate them, additionally onerous to like them form of deal. So I actually respect it from the Payments followers after which additionally to followers normally, simply thanks.”
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Saban on Tua returning: Most necessary factor is his well being
Nick Saban joins Pat McAfee to debate Tua Tagovailoa getting back from a concussion.
SPEAKING TO MEDIA a day after Tagavialoa’s concussion, Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce, who’d watched the sport, was requested how he thought the Miami quarterback’s scenario must be dealt with.
“I will be trustworthy, I would inform him to retire. It is not price it,” Pierce mentioned. “Enjoying the sport, I have not witnessed something like what’s occurred to him thrice. Scary — you can see straight away; the gamers’ faces on the sphere. You may see the sense of urgency from everyone to get Tua assist. I simply suppose in some unspecified time in the future — he’ll reside longer than he’ll play soccer. Care for your loved ones.”
Pierce, who performed 9 seasons as a center linebacker within the NFL earlier than retiring in 2009, was one among a number of former NFL gamers who urged Tagovailoa to retire within the rapid aftermath of his damage, together with former Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant, Corridor of Fame tight finish Tony Gonzalez and former tight finish Benjamin Watson, who suffered 5 documented concussions in his 16-year NFL profession, together with three in 2011.
Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Pederson, one other former NFL participant, mentioned the main target must be on Tagovailoa’s well being, not enjoying profession.
“Everyone needs to play and so they love this sport a lot, and so they give a lot to it that when issues like this occur, actuality form of hits a little bit bit, and it exhibits the human aspect of our sport,” he mentioned.
THE FOLLOWING WEEK, as Tagovailoa ready to fulfill with a number of neurologists throughout the nation, the Dolphins moved ahead with Thompson as their beginning quarterback.
They signed Tyler Huntley off the Ravens’ apply squad, however the job was Thompson’s for so long as he was capable of maintain onto it.
“I believe that is extra on to again up Skylar,” McDaniel mentioned of signing Huntley, “and then you definitely all the time let competitors play out when it is out on the sphere. However this can be a depth transfer for certain.”
Miami tapped into that depth one week later when Thompson was knocked out of a 24-3 loss on the Seattle Seahawks. He accomplished 13-of-17 passes for 107 yards earlier than exiting with a rib damage halfway by means of the third quarter. Tim Boyle, who was known as up from the staff’s apply squad that weekend, completed the sport in his stead.
Huntley began the next week’s primetime sport in opposition to the Tennessee Titans — a blowout loss during which he accomplished 14-of-22 passes for 96 yards.
Huntley was additionally behind heart when the Dolphins beat the New England Patriots in Week 6, and after they misplaced to the Indianapolis Colts the next week.
Miami’s passing sport with Tagovailoa sidelined was abysmal. In 4 video games with out him, Miami ranked lifeless final in passing yards per sport, completion proportion over expectation, passing touchdowns and quarterback ranking.
In three begins, Huntley accomplished 39-of-66 passes for 371 yards, a landing and an interception.
Tagovailoa was fast to carry the blame off his backups when he spoke to the media final week.
“I believe it is actually robust to ask any of our quarterbacks to return in to do the footwork that we have been doing for the previous two years,” he mentioned. “To see quick guys working and seeing the house that is there and asking them to form of course of all of that. We checked out movie, we have been capable of see what we missed and what we may’ve received higher with, however it’s a staff sport.
“It should not take one place for this complete factor to crumble, everyone must be on their P’s and Q’s as effectively.”
AMID PREPARATIONS FOR the Dolphins’ Week 5 matchup in opposition to the Patriots, Tagovailoa paid one among Miami’s assistants a shock go to.
McDaniel and offensive coordinator Frank Smith are amongst a gaggle of coaches who arrive on the staff facility significantly early. One morning, Smith heard a voice faintly over his headphones.
“Hey boss.”
Smith seemed as much as see Tagovailoa standing within the doorway to his workplace, espresso in hand.
“What’re you as much as?” Tagovailoa requested.
Smith mentioned it was round 5 a.m., and Tagovailoa had arrived on the constructing early. Since he was on IR, he could not apply, however as a substitute peppered Smith with questions on what he and the teaching employees have been engaged on so early within the day.
“He is simply an infectious character, he is all the time constructive,” Smith mentioned after recalling the story. “It has been partaking, and it has been superior. He is only a actually enjoyable man to work with.”
Gamers are concerned within the set up of the weekly gameplan, however not the event of it. His dialog with Smith allowed Tagovailoa to see the sport from a coach’s perspective.
“That was enjoyable,” Smith mentioned. “It is Coach Tua.”
Tagovailoa was three weeks away from clearing concussion protocol and injured reserve, however he mentioned he skilled as a lot as he was allowed to do.
His routine, together with the early arrival to the ability, was not splendid, however it put him in place to function as, like Smith mentioned, “Coach Tua.”
“I imply yeah, it is simply irritating that I could not have helped in any means exterior of making an attempt to educate and simply speaking to guys,” Tagovailoa mentioned. “It has been a distinct sort of means of main with our guys.”
MOMENTS AFTER A Week 7 loss to the Colts, Tagovailoa walked off the Lucas Oil Stadium subject by himself. He wore a team-issued sweatsuit, darkish sun shades and the identical stoic expression that had been etched on his face for 3 hours and counting.
For the fourth time previously 5 weeks, Tagovailoa stood on the sidelines whereas his staff performed with out him. Sporadically, he’d work together together with his teammates or congratulate somebody after huge play. However largely, he simply stood and watched.
“Simply making an attempt to get the heart beat of the staff and the fellows and to have the ability to relay a few of that info to Mike (McDaniel),” Tagovailoa mentioned of his expertise on the sidelines. “‘Hey, we have to get this man extra concerned. Hey, this man must get this or that.’ Or, ‘Did you see on the final third down what they have been doing?’ Speaking that all through the coaches and with what I am listening to with the gamers as effectively.”
His sun shades remained on within the Dolphins’ locker room after the sport. He quietly sat at his locker whereas the media was allowed within the room.
Tagovailoa mentioned it was irritating not having the ability to assist his struggling staff on the sphere, however his return was nearing. McDaniel mentioned as soon as the staff received by means of the top of Week 7, he advised his quarterback that his apply window would open in Week 8.
“I believe he is recognized the entire time there’s no one that wishes him on the market greater than I do, “McDaniel mentioned final week, “however none of us have been going to shortchange the unimaginable duty now we have to everybody, him included, and simply go rogue and begin establishing timelines of what we will do earlier than that point got here.”
DOLPHINS WIDE RECEIVER Tyreek Hill didn’t communicate with the media after their 17-15 Week 7 loss to the Colts. He recorded a single catch for 8 yards, his lowest output since becoming a member of the Dolphins in 2022. He vowed to talk Wednesday of the approaching week and saved his phrase.
When Wednesday got here, Hill was exuberant whereas discussing the day’s apply. Tagovailoa’s window to return had opened that day, and he had taken the sphere for the primary time in additional than a month simply hours earlier than Hill spoke.
“Felt like previous instances, me and him linked on a number of deep photographs right this moment and that form of received me feeling good,” Hill mentioned. “I missed that, and I missed him. I advised him I’ve received to take him and his spouse to dinner as a result of I missed him a lot. S— was so stunning, that s— nearly made me cry right this moment like simply having him within the lineup, having him name the performs, having him direct the offense, like simply listening to his voice. I do know that sounds loopy, however he is an enormous a part of this staff.”
Hill is on tempo for the fewest receiving yards since his rookie season. After catching seven passes for 130 yards and a landing in Week 1, the one full sport he’d performed with Tagovailoa this season previous to Week 8, Hill caught a mixed 14 passes for 140 yards within the 4 video games Tagovailoa missed.
He has maintained a constructive perspective throughout his availabilities over the previous month, insisting he wanted to do extra and that he wasn’t upset — or wanting a commerce.
The constructive outlook continued when requested if he had a message to his fantasy soccer managers with Tagovailoa set to return the next Sunday.
“We’re again, child. Strike up the f—— band, we’re again, child,” he mentioned. “Begin me this week, child, let’s go.”
TAGOVAILOA’S RETURN SUNDAY in opposition to the Cardinals jump-started the Dolphins’ offense.
He accomplished 28-of-38 passes for 234 yards and a landing, main Miami to its first opening-drive landing of the season, its highest level whole of the season, and its highest yardage output since Week 1.
It wasn’t sufficient to keep away from the 28-27 loss, nevertheless, on Chad Ryland’s last-second, 34-yard subject aim.
Tagovailoa wasn’t good. He mishandled a snap within the third quarter that resulted in a security. However he was glad to be again on the sphere.
“I’d say I felt like myself,” he mentioned. “I have been getting ready for 5 weeks as if I have been to play whereas I used to be on IR so that is what it was. So it felt regular coming on the market.”
At 2-5, the Dolphins are the tenth seed within the AFC and two video games again of the Los Angeles Chargers for the seventh and closing playoff spot. Out of the 248 groups since 1968 which have began 2-5, solely 11 made the playoffs — most not too long ago, the Inexperienced Bay Packers final season. However Tagovailoa mentioned there’s nonetheless time to show issues round.
“I believe there’s all the time time, brother. There’s all the time time. Seventeen video games,” he mentioned after the Cardinals loss. “So whether or not we’re counted out or we’re not, it does not matter. We’ll proceed to play soccer.
“Something’s doable. So we will proceed to belief one another, lean on one another, imagine in one another, and we will go do it subsequent week.”
