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.