Tag: tua tagovailoa

Botched snap leads to Cardinals safety against Dolphins

A bad snap and the Cardinals wound up with a safety against the Dolphins

Tua Tagovailoa returned for the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

All was going smoothly until a bad snap in the third quarter.

The quarterback couldn’t handle it and somehow managed to knock it out of the back of the end zone.

The result was a safety for the Arizona Cardinals, who trailed 20-12 after the play.

Dolphins fans erupted after Tua Tagovailoa had the awareness to slide rather than get hit after a scramble

Tagovailoa played it safe. The Dolphins’ crowd loved it.

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:

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.

Dolphins move Tua Tagovailoa to active roster, release QB to make room

After weeks of quarterback transactions, the Dolphins’ depth chart at the position is back to what it was at the start of the season.

The Miami Dolphins officially moved Tua Tagovailoa to the active roster from the injured reserve Saturday, the team announced.

It was an expected move after Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel told reporters that Tagovailoa cleared the final steps of the NFL’s concussion protocol making him the team’s starter Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. To make room for Tagovailoa, the Dolphins cut quarterback Tim Boyle, who was signed to the active roster last week as a backup to Tyler Huntley.

The move means that the Dolphins’ quarterback depth chart now looks like it did for the first two weeks of the season with Tagovailoa starting and Skylar Thompson serving as the team’s primary backup.

Huntley was placed on injured reserve Friday and veteran C.J. Beathard was added to the practice squad earlier in the week.

Additionally, the Dolphins elevated long snapper Matt Overton and defensive lineman Neil Farrell to the active roster for Sunday. Miami’s usual long snapper Blake Ferguson is on the non-football illness list and defensive lineman Zach Sieler suffered a fractured orbital in practice that will keep him out against the Arizona Cardinals.

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‘Zero’ medical experts told Tua Tagovailoa to stop playing football

Mike McDaniel says Tua Tagovailoa met with a “litany” of medical experts and none told him to walk away from football.

Tua Tagovailoa will return to the Miami Dolphins’ lineup Sunday more than a month after a concussion suffered against the Buffalo Bills had many questioning if he should ever play again.

But less than two years after Tagovailoa told reporters that he considered retirement after suffering multiple concussions in 2022, the Dolphins quarterback dismissed the idea of walking away from football at a press conference earlier this week.

According to Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, medical experts made no effort to urge Tagovailoa to make that decision.

“Tua met with a litany, a laundry list, a long list of medical experts, and zero of them recommended that he shouldn’t play football,” McDaniel told reporters Friday. “So that means 100 percent of them were supporting the continued journey and I think that is as easy of a relay as possible.

“I think there’s a lot of things out there, so I can’t tell you how many people or if many people asked him, but I know that’s what drove his confidence is making his decision in step with medical experts who fully support what he’s doing.”

When Tagovailoa spoke to reporters Monday, the Dolphins quarterback said he had no discussion with his family about leaving the sport and he dismissed the idea of wearing a Guardian Cap to provide an additional layer of protection. But McDaniel wants it to be known that Tagovailoa is as mindful as anyone when it comes to concussions.

” From all the way to the most minimal thing with hydration and how you eat – I know in the locker room, he is my foremost expert on the brain,” McDaniel said of Tagovailoa. “No one in this process has trivialized any of this. … I think he’s really gone above and beyond since 2022 really, and he’s taking it with that same seriousness, just probably leveled up a little bit.”

Tagovailoa led the NFL in passer rating (105.5) during his injury-shortened 2022 season and was the league’s leading passer (4,624 yards) in 2023 after playing in all 17 games for the first time in his career.

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Tua Tagovailoa officially returning, will start vs. Cardinals

Tagovailoa will come off IR and start at quarterback for the Dolphins against the Cardinals, making his first start since his concussion.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagavailoa is officially questionable to play in Week 8 against the Arizona Cardinals, but head coach Mike McDaniel announced that Tagovailoa will be activated from injured reserve and will start on Sunday.

Tagovailos has been on injured reserve recovering from a concussion he suffered in Week 2.

There has been concern about his return to the game. His multiple concussions have been highly visible and have looked bad.

But the Dolphins released this statement about their starting quarterback’s return:

Tua Tagovailoa followed the NFL’s five-step Return to Participation Protocol, including an examination and clearance by an Independent Neurological Consultant.

Following Thursday’s practice, Tagovailoa was examined by the Independent Neurological Consultant and cleared to play in Sunday’s game.

As he has progressed through the Return to Participation Protocol, Tagovailoa has received care from top medical experts across the country.

Those experts spoke candidly with Tagovailoa about his history and not one doctor recommended he retire from the game.

Tagovailoa’s decision to return to the game following medical clearance is a decision he made with his doctors and his family.

Tagovailos has said he has been symptom-free since the day after he suffered the concussion in Week 2.

The Dolphins are 2-5 and have averaged only 10 points per game in his absence. He led the NFL in passing last season and the Dolphins were second in scoring in 2023.

His return is enough to make the Dolphins 4.5-point favorites over the Cardinals.

The Cardinals and Dolphins kick off Sunday from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami at 1 p.m. ET.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Former Alabama coach Nick Saban is ‘concerned’ for Tua Tagovailoa

Tua Tagovailoa’s college coach is worried about and praying for the quarterback.

Tua Tagovailoa will make his return to the starting lineup Sunday, and many will be watching the Miami Dolphins quarterback with bated breath.

After another scary concussion for a player who already considered retirement because of his history of head injuries, there are plenty who are understandably worried that Tagovailoa will take another damaging hit. That includes former Alabama coach Nick Saban, who spent three years coaching Tagovailoa.

“I’m concerned. I want Tua to be safe and healthy and not have a football career that’s going to impact him down the road,” Saban said Friday on The Pat McAfee Show. “This is a medical decision, this not an organizational decision. People will look at him and say ‘Why are they letting him play?’ I think the doctors make that decision and it’s a medical decision.

“For him, it becomes personal then. ‘I really want to play. I’m a competitor. I want to play.’ So he has to make a decision — is the risk-reward from a medical point worth it to you? I think all those things are in play now. If he wants to play — and I’ve talked to him, I know he wants to play, I know what kind of competitor he is — then I’m happy for him that he’s having the opportunity to play. But I also pray for him that he doesn’t have any issues.”

Tagovailoa’s concerning injury history dates back to his days at Alabama where he suffered a concussion, as well as a broken hip and nose, from a hit in 2019. But it was the 2022 season when things boiled over with Tagovailoa suffering two diagnosed concussions — and possibly a third that went undiagnosed — that raised doubts about the passer’s future.

In his first press conference since suffering a concussion in Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills, Tagovailoa dismissed the idea of walking away from football.

“This is what I love to do. This is what makes me happy, and I’m gonna do it. That’s it,” Tagovailoa said.

Tagovailoa is set to return to the starting lineup Sunday in a home game against the Arizona Cardinals.

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Two former Alabama QBs expected to return to NFL starting lineups this week

Tua Tagovailoa and Bryce Young both expected to start this week.

So far, the 2024 NFL season has been a struggle for former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterbacks. Tua Tagovailoa suffered a brutal Week 2 concussion, Bryce Young was benched after Week 2, Jalen Hurts has struggled quite a bit and Mac Jones is in a backup role on a 2-5 Jacksonville team.

However, things are starting to turn around for Tagovailoa and Young, who are both expected to return to their starting lineups this week.

Tagovailoa completed the NFL’s concussion protocol on Friday, and neurological experts have told him he’s not risking further damage by playing. The Dolphins are in dire need of his return as they are 1-3 without him this year. Miami hosts the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

As for Young, he returns to the lineup due to an injury Andy Dalton suffered in a car accident. With the Panthers firmly out of the Playoff race, it makes all of the sense in the world to give Young the reins and let him learn in the fire. Carolina travels out West to take on the Broncos this weekend.

Who knows, the way things are going for the Jaguars, Jones may get a chance before the season is over.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Will Tua Tagovailoa play this week? Injury update on Dolphins quarterback

Tua Tagovailoa’s status for Week 8 changed on Friday

The Miami Dolphins offense disappeared when Tua Tagovailoa exited with a concussion earlier in the season. There was concern for the quarterback’s career. Miami brought him back off IR this week. What does it mean for the game against the Arizona Cardinals?

Tua Tagovailoa injury update

Tua Tagovailoa went out with a concussion when crashing headfirst into the Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin. Given his history with concussions there was an initial buzz that he might retired. Tagovailoa debunked those rumors swiftly.

How long has Tua Tagovailoa been out?

Tagovailoa was injured in Week Two, a 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. He was on IR until this week when Miami activated the QB with the intention of bringing him back at some point. That point became Friday when Tagovailoa was cleared from concussion protocol and it was announced he would start against Arizona.

Miami Dolphins’ quarterback depth chart

The Dolphins and Fish fans have learned what Tagovailoa means to the offense. Without him, it has been dormant. Skylar  Thompson and Tim Boyle are behind the former Alabama star. The Dolphins, by the way, play the Bills in a rematch on Nov. 3.

Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill questionable for Week 8 vs. Cardinals

Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill are listed as questionable, but it’d be a surprise if either sat out Sunday.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and wide receiver Tyreek Hill were both listed as questionable for a Week 8 game against the Arizona Cardinals. It would be a surprise, however, if either player was forced to sit out.

Tagovailoa is still on the Dolphins’ injured reserve and will likely be moved to the active roster Saturday after he officially cleared the concussion protocol Friday. But as a player who isn’t yet on the active roster, questionable is the standard status.

As for Hill, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Friday that he was feeling optimistic about the receiver’s chances at playing through a foot injury suffered in practice.

“I’m feeling good,” McDaniel said of Hill and receiver Jaylen Waddle. “We’ll see how today goes, but yes, I feel very optimistic and feel good about where they’re at.”

Defensive lineman Zach Sieler is out after suffering an eye poke in practice and cornerback Kader Kohou is out with a neck injury. With rookie Storm Duck also likely to miss Week 8, the Dolphins may lean on second-year cornerback Cam Smith in his first game back from injured reserve as well as special teamer Siran Neal.

For the Cardinals, the loss of cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting leaves the team without much experience in the secondary.

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Tyreek Hill, Zach Sieler added to Dolphins’ Thursday injury report

The Dolphins added two key players to their injury report Thursday.

Tyreek Hill and Zach Sieler were limited in the Miami Dolphins’ practice Thursday after neither appeared on the team’s injury report Wednesday.

Hill was listed with a foot issue, while Sieler had an eye problem that limited him.

The only other change for the Dolphins from their Wednesday report was Tua Tagovailoa’s participation switched from limited to full. Miami is working the quarterback back into the mix and expects him to start Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, but for now, he’s still on the Dolphins’ injured reserve and is working his way through the concussion protocol.

Thursday participation

DNP

  • CB Storm Duck (ankle)
  • QB Tyler Huntley (right shoulder)
  • CB Kader Kohou (neck)

Limited

  • OL Liam Eichenberg (shoulders)
  • WR Tyreek Hill (foot)
  • S Jevón Holland (hand)
  • LB Emmanuel Ogbah (bicep)
  • DT Zach Sieler (eye)
  • WR Jaylen Waddle (quad)

Full

  • QB Tua Tagovailoa (concussion)

Another missed practice for both Duck and Kohou means it’s unlikely that either cornerback will be available Sunday against the Cardinals. According to Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, there are several players, including Jalen Ramsey, Jevón Holland, Siran Neal, and Cam Smith, who could play in the slot if both Duck and Kohou are unavailable.

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