Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel announced that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will be starting under center for the team on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.
Upon hearing the news, veteran wide receiver Tyreek Hill sent a message to the rest of the NFL. “He looked great in practice. Felt like old times,” Hil said. “Me and him connected on a few deep shots and that kind of got me feeling good. I missed that and I missed him.”
“We’re back, baby. We’re so back, baby. Nobody can stop us. Start me this week (fantasy owners),” Hill joked. “I know that sounds crazy, but he’s a big part of this team.”
During their two full seasons together in 2022 and 2023, Hill earned First-team All-Pro honors both years. Without Tagovailoa, Miami sits just 2-4 in 2024.
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Tagovalioa suffered a concussion, the fourth of his career, in Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills on a tackle by safety Demar Hamlin. He hasn’t appeared since for the Dolphins.
Upon his return, the Miami quarterback expressed he won’t wear a guardian cap — a protective helmet meant to reduce the risk of concussions. When asked why he won’t wear it, Tagovailoa answered “Personal choice.”
Coach Mike McDaniel was effusive in his praise of Tagovailoa’s effort to return from injury. “He’s done an outstanding job of not doing anything but controlling what he can control,” he said.
Mike McDaniel has been missing his star quarterback since Week 2 (
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“So in that, he’s put his best foot forward to take care of himself as well as to be the leader of this football team, just in a different way. In all of that, he’s been fully engaged, but he’s also become very aware that he is not interested in becoming a coach anytime soon, that his love is playing football.”
Hill took note of the pair’s connection. “It makes a lot of difference. Tua — him and Mike, they’ve got this real special connection,” he admitted.
“He allows Tua to be Tua. Tua has a connection with all the guys, all of us spend a lot of time with Tua so the connection is there. Then when you bring that all on the field, it magnifies everything that we do… throws are on time, playcalling, the operation is faster. He just does a great job of commanding this offense.”
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With a cadre of backup quarterbacks, Hill has just 284 receiving yards in six games — on pace for what could be a career-low. Last year, Hill led the league with 1,799 yards,
Many have questioned if Tagovailoa should even return to football. McDaniel emphasized that the injury to his star quarterback shouldn’t be viewed in a vacuum.
“Every concussion is unique,” the Dolphins coach said. “That’s why we rely upon people who study the brain for a living. That was the driving force.”
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