Tua Tagovailoa made his return to the Miami Dolphins’ lineup Sunday after missing five weeks with a head injury. That latest concussion threw his career into question and dealt a major blow to Miami’s playoff hopes. The Dolphins went 1-4 with Skylar Thompson and Tyler Huntley filling in behind center.
That left Dolphins faithful with something to cheer about in Week 8. Tagovailoa started against the Arizona Cardinals and immediately boosted his offense. He pushed Tyreek Hill back to All-Pro heights and gave his running game enough room to thrive.
While that led to plenty of cheers in south Florida, Tagovailoa’s biggest ovation may have been when he showcased the awareness to avoid contact rather than take a hit to wrap up a third-and-long scramble:
Tua with a first down run and a slide as he gets into the red zone! 🐬
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/v3EdSLJdoJ
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 27, 2024
Tagovailoa was injured in Week 2 after colliding with Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin at the end of a run. This time, he slid after picking up a first down, avoiding contact and earning a roar from the Miami crowd in the process.
Tagovailoa’s return was significant; a 10-point first quarter gave Miami only its second double-digit lead of the season — and the first came in an eventual 16-10 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. His ability to avoid contact and stay healthy is endemic to the Dolphins’ postseason hopes. On Sunday, at least briefly, he capitalized on that.