Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Racks up yardage in loss
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Tagovailoa completed 36 of 45 passes for 357 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions and added two rushes for six yards in the Dolphins' 30-17 loss to the Packers on Thursday. He also threw a two-point conversion pass.
Tagovailoa's final numbers look undeniably impressive without context, particularly for a cold-weather environment in which he's typically had trouble. However, the on-field reality was a bit different, as the Dolphins were already in a 24-3 hole at the half. Tagovailoa did move his team much more efficiently as the game went on, leading three second-half drives of 67 yards or greater, with two of those culminating in touchdown passes to De'Von Achane (14 yards) and Tyreek Hill (12 yards) in the third and fourth quarters, respectively. The 2020 first-round pick also completed a two-point conversion pass to Jaylen Waddle after the first scoring toss, and he threw multiple touchdown strikes without an interception for the third consecutive game. Tagovailoa and the Dolphins will continue their uphill battle to remain in the AFC playoff picture when they host the Jets in a Week 14 divisional matchup on Sunday, Dec. 8, although Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald reports that the talented signal-caller was walking with a limp in the postgame locker room.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Surgical effort in big win
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Tagovailoa completed 29 of 40 passes for 317 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions and rushed three times for minus-2 yards in the Dolphins' 34-15 win over the Patriots on Sunday.
Tagovailoa displayed his prototypical mastery of head coach Mike McDaniel's offense, connecting with eight different targets and facilitating particularly productive games for Jaylen Waddle (8-144-1) and Jonnu Smith (9-87-1). Tagovailoa's total through the air marked his first time eclipsing the 300-yard mark since Week 1, while his TD tally -- which consisted of scoring tosses to Smith (seven yards), De'Von Achane (nine, 11 yards) and Waddle (23 yards) -- represented a season-high figure. Tagovailoa and his offensive teammates will next look to dispel their reputation for struggling in cold weather when they visit the Packers for a Thanksgiving Night showdown on Thursday.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Sleeper QBs
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Tagovailoa finally had the breakout game we've been waiting for in Week 11 against Las Vegas with a season-high 29.5 Fantasy points. He's now scored at least 21.5 Fantasy points in two of his past three games, and hopefully, he's getting hot at the right time heading into the Fantasy points. This week, Tagovailoa should have another solid outing against the Patriots, who have allowed at least 21.3 Fantasy points to three of the past four opposing quarterbacks. I like Tagovailoa as a top-10 Fantasy quarterback in Week 12.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Sharp performance in Week 11 win
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Tagovailoa completed 28 of 36 passes for 288 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions and committed a fumble recovered by Miami in the Dolphins' 34-19 win over the Raiders on Sunday.
Tagovailoa posted his highest yardage total since Week 1 while tying a season high in completions and establishing a new personal season best in touchdown passes. The 2020 first-round pick connected with Jonnu Smith (one yard, 57 yards) and Tyreek Hill (eight yards) for his trio of scoring tosses, and he helmed an impressive four second-half scoring drives to help the Dolphins win going away. Tagovailoa recorded completions to nine different targets overall, affording him plenty of momentum going into a Week 12 home matchup against the Patriots.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: QBs to Start
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Tagovailoa has underwhelmed as a Fantasy quarterback since coming back from his four-game absence with a concussion. In three games, Tagovailoa has scored 16.7 Fantasy points or less twice, including a dud of 10.2 points at the Rams in Week 10. But I expect Tagovailoa to bounce back this week against the Raiders, who are No. 8 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks. Four of the past five quarterbacks against Las Vegas have scored at least 22.2 Fantasy points, and I like Tagovailoa coming back home for this game.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Solid in Week 10 win
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Tagovailoa completed 20 of 28 passes for 207 yards with a touchdown and an interception and rushed once for minus-1 yard in the Dolphins' 23-15 win over the Rams on Monday night. He also lost a fumble.
Tagovailoa took three sacks and fumbled on one of them midway through the second quarter, with Jared Verse scooping up the ball for the Rams at the Dolphins' 36-yard line. While that turnover did lead to a field goal, Tagovailoa played a relatively smooth game otherwise and connected with eight different targets overall. The 2020 first-round pick's one touchdown toss went to Tyreek Hill with 5:32 remaining in the third quarter, and he now draws another favorable matchup when the Raiders visit South Florida for a Week 11 matchup.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Sleeper QBs
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Tagovailoa had a solid outing in Week 9 at Buffalo, where he missed on just three of 28 pass attempts for 231 yards and two touchdowns, and he scored 21.5 Fantasy points. I'm expecting another quality performance from Tagovailoa against the Rams, who have allowed the past two opposing quarterbacks to score at least 22.2 Fantasy points. This game has the potential to be a high-scoring affair, and the expected point total is 50 points. That bodes well for Tagovailoa and Matthew Stafford having a shootout.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Trending toward playing
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Tagovailoa (concussion) was activated off injured reserve Saturday ahead Sunday's game against the Cardinals. The quarterback is still listed as questionable, but he's expected to play.
The Dolphins didn't remove Tagovailoa's injury designation, but head coach Mike McDaniel already suggested Friday the Pro Bowl quarterback would play. The 26-year-old said he's been symptom-free since Sept. 13, so it's fair to assume the Dolphins offense will effectively return to one of most formidable in the league with Tagovailoa now back.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Sleeper QBs
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The Dolphins and Fantasy managers are excited to have Tagovailoa (concussion) back for Week 8, and he has top-10 upside in his matchup with the Cardinals at home. Tagovailoa scored 20.6 Fantasy points in his lone full game this year against Jacksonville in Week 1, and we know he's capable of being a star when healthy. The Cardinals allow an average of 21.4 Fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks, and Josh Allen, Jayden Daniels, and Jordan Love all scored at least 26 Fantasy points against Arizona this season. I don't expect Tagovailoa to do that well, but over 20 Fantasy points is likely. Start him if needed in this matchup.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Clears concussion protocol
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Tagovailoa has cleared the NFL's concussion protocol and is slated to play Sunday against the Cardinals, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com reports.
Tagovailoa, who hasn't played since suffering his most recent concussion Sept. 12, thus is slated to be activated off IR ahead of Sunday's contest, which positions him to get back into the starting lineup. His looming return should provide a major lift to the Dolphins offense and boosts the fantasy prospects of the team's pass catchers. Meanwhile, with Tyler Huntley (shoulder) likely unavailable, it looks like either Skylar Thompson, Tim Boyle or C.J. Beathard will be in line to back up Tagovailoa on Sunday.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Limited in practice return
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Tagovailoa (concussion) was a limited practice participant Wednesday, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
The Dolphins designated Tagovailoa for return from injured reserve earlier Wednesday and reportedly expect him to clear concussion protocol before Sunday's game against Arizona. He'll likely upgrade to full participation Thursday or Friday, and Furones notes that Tagovailoa looked sharp during Wednesday's practice, his first since he suffered his fourth documented concussion in five years in the Dolphins' Sept. 12 loss to the Bills.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Consultation with expert on deck
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Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said Monday that Tagovailoa (concussion) is scheduled for an "expert consultation" during the team's Week 6 bye, Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald reports.
McDaniel said "everything is so far so good" with regard to the franchise quarterback's recovery progress, though he noted "the final stages of protocol won't be achieved until we bring [Tagovailoa] back off IR." Tagovailoa won't be eligible to come off injured reserve until Week 8, at the earliest, positioning Tyler Huntley to remain Miami's starter in the interim, including at least for the team's game against the Colts in Week 7. Tagovailoa had initial meetings with neurologists in early October and is reportedly symptom free. Assuming his recovery continues to progress without any setbacks, it sounds like the Dolphins will plan for him to be back in the starting lineup this season. A clear timetable for Tagovailoa's return to practice remains undisclosed, though.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Free of concussion symptoms
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Tagovailoa (concussion) has been "symptom free" and has met with neurologists, and at this stage, the quarterback hasn't received any feedback that has dissuaded him from continuing his playing career, Adam Schefter reported Monday on ESPN's "Monday Night Countdown" program.
Tagovailoa was diagnosed with his fourth documented concussion in five years back on Sept. 12, when he collided with the Bills' Damar Hamlin while rushing for a first down. Despite Tagovailoa's troubling history with concussions, he thus far seems to be making good progress in his recovery. After being placed on injured reserve following the Week 2 loss to Buffalo, Tagovailoa won't be eligible to return to the Dolphins' active roster until the team's Week 8 matchup with the Cardinals. Tagovailoa seems like he could be a realistic option to return to option for that game, provided he doesn't take a turn for the worse in his recovery along with the Dolphins being comfortable having him play again.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Not looking to retire
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Tagovailoa has no plans to retire after suffering his fourth documented concussion in five years in Thursday's 31-10 loss to the Bills, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said Friday that he's not putting a timeline on Tagovailoa's return to the field, instead leaving the decision in the hands of the quarterback and his doctors. Though Adam Schefter of ESPN reported earlier Sunday that Tagovailoa is meeting with neurologists this week to get more information about the severity of his latest brain injury and the cumulative effect of the ones he has suffered in the past to make the most informed decision about his future, the quarterback's preference is to continue playing. Tagovailoa's opinion could change depending on the feedback he receives, however, and even if doctors clear him to continue his career, it's uncertain when he might be ready to resume football activities. Skylar Thompson is likely to step in as the Dolphins' quarterback for at least the team's next game Sept. 22 in Seattle.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Meeting with neurologists on tap
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Tagovailoa (concussion) is scheduled to meet with neurologists early this week, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
After being diagnosed with a concussion following his early exit from Thursday's 31-10 loss to the Bills, Tagovailoa will seek input from neurologists regarding the severity of his latest brain injury and the cumulative effect of the ones he has suffered in the past to make the most informed decision about his playing future, according to Schefter. The quarterback had previously been diagnosed with two concussions in 2022 and took a third hit to the head that same season that prompted the NFL to alter how concussions are reported and evaluated. Tagovailoa also suffered a concussion during his final collegiate season at Alabama, meaning that he's been diagnosed with four concussions over the past five years. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel didn't comment on Tagovailoa's playing status moving forward, noting that he wants the quarterback to focus on his his health before discussing the possibility of a return. Skylar Thompson is the lone healthy quarterback on Miami's roster and replaced Tagovailoa in Thursday's game, though the Dolphins could explore options outside the organization if Tagovailoa requires a stint on injured reserve.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Coach won't touch recovery timeline
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Coach Mike McDaniel said Friday that the Dolphins won't put a timetable on Tagovailoa's recovery from the concussion that he suffered during Thursday's 31-10 loss to the Bills, Kevin Patra of NFL.com reports.
Tagovailoa has an extensive concussion history going back to the 2022 season, missing seven combined games (including a playoff contest) due to head injuries. When asked about a possible timeline for the quarterback, McDaniel relayed, "First and foremost, I'm not assessing the injury through the lens of, 'Alright, so what does this mean for him playing?' Really, for me, I know the facts are that it's important that he gets healthy day by day, and in that, the best thing I can do is not try to assess what this even means from a football standpoint." For as long as Tagovailoa is sidelined, Skylar Thompson is in line to lead Miami's offense, beginning Sunday, Sept. 22 at Seattle.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Unlikely to play Friday
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Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel suggested Wednesdays that Tagovailoa isn't likely to play in Friday's preseason game against Atlanta, Hal Habib of The Palm Beach Post reports.
McDaniel didn't quite commit to holding Tagovailoa out Friday but told assembled media that it wouldn't be surprised by the team's plan for the preseason opener. Tagovailoa was held out of the preseason opener in 2023 before playing in the final two exhibition contests.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Multi-year extension gets done
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Tagovailoa and the Dolphins agreed to terms Friday on a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Tagovailoa and Miami spent much of the offseason wrapped up in negotiations for a long-term extension, and the 2020 first-round pick now gets a multi-year commitment and large payday from the franchise that once selected him fifth overall. While awaiting a new deal, Tagovailoa only practiced partially at training camp, but Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports that he returned as a full participant Friday. Since pairing with head coach Mike McDaniel, Tagovailoa has transformed into one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the NFL and taken full advantage of having stars Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle headlining his wide receiver corps. The 26-year-old is coming off the first full season of his four-year career, a 2023 campaign in which he led the league with 4,624 passing yards while throwing 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, with his 8.3 YPA ranking second in the NFL. The additions of No. 3 receiver Odell Beckham (undisclosed) and TE Jonnu Smith, plus another year of growth in McDaniel's offensive scheme, could provide enough fuel for Tagovailoa to take yet another step forward during the 2024 campaign.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Present for start of OTAs
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Tagovailoa is present for the start of OTAs on Monday, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.
Tagovailoa was recently reported to have missed a notable amount of Miami's offseason work amid ongoing talks about a contract extension, but the 26-year-old quarterback is in the building to kick off the start of OTAs. It appears that both Tagovailoa and the Dolphins' organization are confident that an extension will get done prior to the start of the regular season, so unless things stall on that front there shouldn't be too many concerns about the quarterback's offseason participation. Currently, Tagovailoa is slated to play out the 2024 campaign on his fifth-year option. He played a full 17 regular-season games last year for the first time in his career, achieving new highs with 4,624 passing yards, 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Optimism about extension
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Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said Tuesday that he "absolutely" wants Tagovailoa to sign a contract extension this offseason, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com reports.
The lefty quarterback is set to play out the 2024 season under the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, after leading the league in yards per attempt in 2022 (8.9) and total passing yards in 2023 (4,624). Tagovailoa hasn't quite progressed to fantasy stardom despite his success, as he doesn't offer much in the way of rushing production, missed four games in 2022 and then saw Miami running backs rush for 27 of the team's 57 offensive touchdowns in 2023. He still has a path to QB1 value -- at least on the low end -- while throwing passes to elite receiving talents in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle in one of the NFL's best-designed offenses. Early reports suggest both the Dolphins and Tagovailoa expect an extension to get done this offseason.
