MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa didn't lead the team to victory in his first game back from injured reserve Sunday, but he did display a willingness to protect himself that his teammates, coaches and fans hoped for.
Tagovailoa completed 28 of 38 passes for 234 yards and a touchdown in his first game since suffering a concussion on Sept. 12 and drew loud praise from the home crowd when he was introduced before the game. The crowd cheered even louder in the third quarter, when Tagovailoa slid after picking up a first down on a 13-yard scramble.
The quarterback said it was «super cool» to hear the crowd's reaction and said that protecting himself when he returned was a point of emphasis during his time on IR.
«I'm just trying to avoid the big hits if I can. Sometimes they're unavoidable,» he said. «If there's a free rusher and you got to get the ball out, you take a hit, but just for me putting myself in those situations, I would say just obviously for the past five weeks, I have been able to just really think and ponder about my decisions.»
Tagovailoa was diagnosed with a concussion when he lowered his shoulder into Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin during Miami's Week 2 loss. His helmet hit Hamlin's arm, and his body entered a fencing posture.
Dolphins players and coached emphasized to Tagovailoa over the past month the importance of avoiding unnecessary contact; wide receiver Tyreek Hill even suggested Dolphins fans cheer for Tagovailoa whenever he does slide.
Message received.
«My reaction was 'I think he's going to get the first down.' I'm pretty sure what he's going to do, but you never know until it happens,» Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said. «When he's mindful and not trying to run
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Mike Macdaniel