One thing is certain Tua Tagovailoa never thought about retirement and will return to joint practices with the Dolphins on Wednesday after completing the NFL-mandated time off for concussions.
Another thing that is uncertain is that it is not yet decided, after four games on the injured list, whether he will reappear against the Arizona Cardinals next Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.
On Monday, South Florida coach Mike McDaniel confirmed what was expected. Miami’s starting quarterback will return to practice with the group on Wednesday.
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McDaniel said Tua has to go through the final stages of the concussion protocol. Two doctors will have to clear him this weekend.
“The reason he is coming back is because the medical experts feel it is safe for him to come back,” the coach said.
“He just needs a little time. We are doing everything we can to get him back playing on Sunday.”
In the current regular season, the Dolphins have a terrifying record at quarterback they don’t last more than two games.
Tua was injured in the loss against the Buffalo Bills on September 12, in the second game.
His replacement, Skylar Thompson, was bruised in the ribs the following week against the Seattle Seahawks. Tyler Huntley suffered a shoulder injury in the 16-10 loss to the Colts last Sunday in Indianapolis and left the game in the third quarter.
He was replaced by Tim Boyle, who was activated last Saturday. The Dolphins have paid a heavy price for injuries to their quarterbacks, sitting at 2-4 in the AFC East and 1-3 in Tua’s absence.
Many are eagerly awaiting Tua’s return, but the South Florida starting quarterback has made it clear: “I don’t put pressure on myself to be the team’s savior.”
In that sense, MC Daniel thinks the same as Tua. “He [Tua] is not the savior,” the strategist assured. “There are a lot of things we need to look at to be better. It’s not like Tua’s presence is going to solve the problems.”
The difference is that Tua has been under McDaniel’s command for three years, and he knows the ins and outs of the offensive system that the coach employs, he has studied, practiced, and played under that system which is difficult for a newcomer to execute.
The difference is that Tua has been under McDaniel’s command for three years, and he knows the ins and outs of the offensive system that the coach employs, he has studied, practiced, and played under that system which is difficult for a newcomer to execute.
The Dolphins’s frequent quarterback injuries can be attributed to flaws along the offensive line, but McDaniel also addresses another cause.
Tua has a history of four known concussions in his career three in his five NFL seasons and one in college.
Part of the problem is that when it comes to gaining yards on the ground, Tua collides with his head and does not slide with his feet forward, which is much safer because by rule in the latter case, opponents are not allowed to touch him.
Meanwhile, McDaniel said it has not yet been determined who Tua’s backup will be if he plays Sunday. Boyle is the only healthy quarterback the Dolphins have at the moment.
Thompson is still recovering from the rib injuries he sustained in Seattle, and McDaniel said the severity of Huntley’s shoulder injury is still unclear.
During the Dolphins’s quarterback injury problems, those who have paid the brunt the most are star wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Last season, Hill nearly became the first receiver in NFL history to complete 2,000 yards in the regular season.
On Sunday, however, he was targeted twice and caught the ball just once for just eight yards.
Waddle, meanwhile, was also targeted twice and gained 11 yards on one catch. McDaniel said he spoke to Hill on the plane that brought the Dolphins delegation back to Miami from Indianapolis.
