Tua Tagovailoa’s Practice Return Sparks Miami Dolphins’ Excitement

Return of the Dolphins’ Quarterback

The Miami Dolphins’ locker room was buzzing with excitement on Wednesday as their quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, made his practice return. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill was perhaps the most enthusiastic about Tua’s return. Tagovailoa’s first practice since his concussion on September 12 brought an energizing familiarity back to the Dolphins’ practice field.

Tagovailoa had been on injured reserve since the week following his injury, missing the subsequent four Dolphin games. As the NFL’s top passer from last season, he is eligible to return from IR this week. Hill noted that Tagovailoa’s return sparked a nostalgic atmosphere on the field.

Tyreek Hill’s Statements on Tua’s Return

“He was in great form, it was reminiscent of the good old days,” Hill revealed. “We linked up on several deep throws today, which gave me a good feeling. I’ve missed that, and I’ve missed him. I told him I owe him and his wife a dinner, I’ve missed him that much. Just having him back in the formation, calling the plays, directing the offense, and hearing his voice was so wonderfully overwhelming, it almost made me emotional. It may sound strange, but he’s a significant part of this team.”

During Tagovailoa’s absence, Miami has a 1-3 record. The Dolphins’ offense has struggled, ranking at the bottom in scoring, 31st in expected offensive points added, and 29th in average yards per game. Hill has also seen a decline in his performance without Tagovailoa. He’s projected to finish the season with 833 receiving yards, his lowest since his first season.

However, Hill’s optimism was reignited after successfully completing several deep passes with Tagovailoa during Wednesday’s practice. His enthusiasm was evident in the locker room. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle mentioned that Tagovailoa nearly completed all passes thrown to Hill, suggesting that when they’re in sync, “it generally results in significant plays.”

Hill’s Reaction to Tua’s Successful Passes

“It was a beautiful sight,” Hill commented. “If you ask each guy in the locker room, ‘Did Tua connect with Tyreek today?’ and they answer, ‘Yes,’ the next question should be, ‘What was his reaction immediately after?’ I couldn’t wipe the big smile off my face, it felt that good. You can’t comprehend what it means to me.”

Tagovailoa was injured while ending a scramble against the Buffalo Bills in Week 2. Both he and coach Mike McDaniel agreed that moving forward, the quarterback has a duty to ensure his safety on the field. Hill humorously added that he and his…

Dolphins’ Tagovailoa Urged to Employ Slide Tactic

Teammates Advocate for Tagovailoa’s Safety On-Field

Tagovailoa’s colleagues frequently advise him to adopt the slide action during games, a move that should elicit cheers from Miami Dolphins’ supporters. This sentiment is wholeheartedly supported by running back Raheem Mostert, who emphasizes that ultimately, the control over Tagovailoa’s actions during play rests solely with him.

Mostert Highlights the Need for Self-Protection

“Ever since Tagovailoa’s injury, we’ve been in constant dialogue with him about the importance of sliding,” Mostert shared. While this is often a topic of light-hearted banter among the team, it carries a serious undertone. “Tagovailoa is well aware of the necessity to guard himself more effectively on the field. Although we can incessantly remind him of this, the power to implement it is entirely in his hands,” Mostert added. He further emphasized, “My usual saying is, ‘You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.’ In the same vein, we can guide Tua towards safer play, but we can’t force him to adopt it. He comprehends this and is committed to doing his best.”

Tagovailoa’s Road to Recovery

Tagovailoa was only able to partially participate in the team’s Wednesday training. In order to be eligible to play on Sunday, he will need to fully engage in the practice sessions either on Thursday or Friday. Upon full participation in practice, he will then consult with an independent neurological expert affiliated with the team for final approval to play. Tagovailoa, who was the No. 5 pick in the 2020 NFL draft, revealed that he has been free of symptoms since the day following his concussion, which was the third diagnosed in his NFL career.