Tag: Tua

Tua Tagovailoa: ‘I would be good with’ fresh start in ‘26

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tua Tagovailoa signaled he would be open to move on from the Miami Dolphins as the players cleaned out their lockers Monday, and coach Mike McDaniel said he will meet with Tagovailoa on Tuesday morning to discuss how to move forward.

Tagovailoa, who was benched after Week 15 in favor of rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers, hadn’t previously indicated whether he believed he had played his last game for the franchise that drafted him fifth overall in 2020.

Reporters asked Tagovailoa Monday if he was hoping for a fresh start next season. The quarterback simply responded, “That would be dope. I would be good with it.”

Tagovailoa, 27, added that he understood the question was about playing elsewhere. He declined to share more.

The six-year NFL veteran said he was disappointed when McDaniel benched him in mid-December but did not elaborate further. He was benched less than a year and a half after inking a four-year, $212.5 million contract extension with the team, guaranteeing him $167 million.

The Dolphins fired Chris Grier, the general manager who signed him to that deal, in October. Tagovailoa is guaranteed $54 million in 2026, which could affect the Dolphins’ decision-making process.

Tagovailoa threw for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns and a career-high 15 interceptions in 14 games (all starts) this season. He went 6-8 as a starter and the Dolphins slipped out of the playoff race before finishing 7-10.

McDaniel told reporters his meeting with Tagovailoa was planned for Tuesday morning at 8 a.m. He also pointed to the moving piece of the front office needing a new leader.

“I don’t think anybody quite understands what it’d be like to be through the ringer of a year that he’s had. So to remove emotions, to have a conversation will be very healthy. And beyond that, we’re still in the process of having a GM hired.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 29, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) throws a pass against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

Tua Tagovailoa stretchered off field after hit vs. Bengals

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was taken off the field on a stretcher during Thursday night’s contest against the Cincinnati Bengals with a possible head injury.

Tagovailoa was down on the field for approximately 10 minutes after the injury that occurred with 5:43 remaining in the second quarter.

Shortly before halftime, the Dolphins announced that Tagovailoa was conscious but was being taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center with head and neck injuries.

Tagovailoa was sacked by Cincinnati’s Josh Tupou and swung to the ground violently. His head and upper back hit the turf hard and his fingers spasmed in an odd manner.

The injury comes four days after Tagovailoa briefly left Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills and returned after passing the concussion protocol.

He said Tuesday that he didn’t injure his head against the Bills. He was active for Thursday’s game after being listed on the injury report with back and ankle injuries.

Teddy Bridgewater replaced Tagovailoa, who completed 8 of 14 passes for 110 yards and one interception. Miami trailed 7-6 at the time.

–Field Level Media

Sep 25, 2022; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) lays on the field after apparent injury against the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: NFLPA wants probe of Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion check

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The NFL Players Association plans to initiate a review of whether the Miami Dolphins followed the league’s concussion protocol when allowing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to return to Sunday’s game, ESPN and NFL Network reported.

Tagovailoa left the game against the visiting Buffalo Bills with 2:19 left in the second quarter. Bills linebacker Matt Milano shoved him to the ground for a roughing-the-passer penalty, and the back of Tagovailoa’s head hit the turf. He was wobbly and stumbled to the ground while running off under his own power.

Tagovailoa ended up returning for the Dolphins’ first possession of the third quarter.

After the game, the Alabama product said he hurt his back on a quarterback sneak earlier in the game.

“But for the most part, I’m good,” Tagovailoa said. “Passed whatever concussion protocol they had.”

Tagovailoa was able to stay in for the rest of the game. The Dolphins held off the Bills 21-19 to move to 3-0 and into sole possession of first place in the AFC East.

As part of the collective bargaining agreement, “the NFLPA, the NFL Management Council or any player involved in an alleged failure by a club employee or other member of a club’s medical staff to follow any of the mandatory steps required by the NFL’s Concussion Checklist shall each have the right (independently or collectively) to bring forward a complaint about such alleged failure to the Representatives, which complaint shall be submitted in writing.”

The executive director of the NFLPA and the NFL’s deputy general counsel for labor are required to resolve the complaint no later than three weeks following its filing, which can result in disciplining a team if appropriate. If the sides do not agree on a resolution after three weeks, it can go to an impartial arbitrator.

–Field Level Media

Oct 18, 2020; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) drops back during the second half against the New York Jets at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Tagavailoa debuts as Dolphins’ starter; Tua props aplenty

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tua Time has arrived in Miami, and the rookie quarterback is a popular play at sportsbooks loaded with props around the Dolphins’ first-round pick.

FanDuel opened its Tagovailoa markets with a pair of season total offerings — 1,999 passing yards and 11.5 touchdown passes are the over-under benchmarks at -112.

Tagovailoa makes his first NFL start on Sunday. FanDuel also opened a “receiver of Tagovailoa’s first touchdown pass” window. DeVante Parker is the leader at +340 — this matches PointsBet’s offering — tight end Mike Gesicki (+350), Preston Williams (+550) and Myles Gaskin (+600) are next. Isaiah Ford (+750) and Adam Shaheen (+800) are also on the board.

BetMGM has a +120 moneyline on the Dolphins this week against the Los Angeles Rams in Tagovailoa’s debut. The Rams dominated the Chicago Bears, 24-10, on Monday allowing only a defensive touchdown and a field goal.

Tagovailoa has some serious ground to make up if he wants to enter the Offensive Rookie of the Year conversation. Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has climbed to +155 and is the heavy favorite. Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, the No. 1 pick in the draft who notched his first 400-yard passing game last week, is +260.

Tagovailoa, who debuted in Week 6 prior to last week’s bye, is +850.

Via PointsBet, Tagovailoa is +1500 to win Rookie of the Year with Herbert setting the pace at -175. Burrow is +225.

–Field Level Media

Sep 20, 2020; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) warms up prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Flores: Dolphins not rushing Tua this season

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores tamped down speculation surrounding rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa getting on the field in the near future.

The Dolphins are 1-3 with Ryan Fitzpatrick starting. Tagovailoa is the backup to the 37-year-old Fitzpatrick, but is only one year removed from a major hip injury that required surgery.

Flores paused but said “I presume it’s going to be Ryan” starting Week 5 against the 49ers.

“He’s checked all the boxes from a medical standpoint. He has. Look, the honest thing for me is if it was my kid, and he had a serious injury like that, I wouldn’t want his coach to throw him in there because of media pressure or anything like that. That’s kind of how I approach this situation and really all situations,” Flores said. “The players, essentially, they are my kids. So no one is going to pressure me into doing anything. When we feel like he’s ready to go, we’ll put him in.”

Fitzpatrick has completed 69 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and five interceptions.

Tagovailoa has been active all four games and listed as the No. 2 quarterback.

“Look, I understand where everybody’s coming from with Tua. I get all that,” Flores said. “At the same time, he’s a young player. He’s coming off the injury.”

Tagovailoa said at the 2020 Scouting Combine in February that he would welcome an NFL opportunity that allowed him to sit and learn for his rookie season.

–Field Level Media