MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- There is no better measure of how the goals -- the expectations -- have shifted for Tua Tagovailoa in the last two months than on what resulted after a once-routine Tagovailoa scramble in the third quarter.
Tagovailoa has always been a runner, back to high school. It is one of the things that has given him an edge in football. But he suffered his third diagnosed concussion as a professional in Week 2 on a routine run, routine in that Tagovailoa did what comes naturally to him -- he lowered his head and shoulder and blasted into Damar Hamlin, the Bills' defender. It was not an especially thunderous collision, which is what made what happened next all the more haunting. Tagovailoa went to the ground, displayed the fencing posture, and was out.
In his first game back on Sunday, Tagovailoa's play indicated that he had learned the lessons he has said he has learned, that the Dolphins desperately need him to learn. He was 28-of-38 for 234 yards and one touchdown. More to the point, he avoided contact so well that he was barely touched at all -- the Arizona Cardinals were credited with three quarterback hits and one sack -- even when he held the ball a beat longer to let a deep play unspool. On most pass plays, he accelerated his already quick release. And on that one hold-your-breath bolt toward the sideline, the best part was the end. Tagovailoa slid.
The crowd roared and got to its feet. It chanted his name. He could have charged ahead for more yards as defenders closed, and it was impossible to watch the play develop and not wonder if everyone should brace themselves for impact. Instead, Tagovailoa got 13 yards, bounced up, pointed to the ground and set off a giant exhale.
"I thought that was super cool -- I think anyone would think that was awesome," Tagovailoa said after the game.
Tagovailoa said he has been practicing being more mindful about not taking big hits and will have to continue to practice shifting his mindset. He has had five weeks to ponder his decisions and how they affect his team. The goals have changed.
"Not trying to be a hero," Tagovailoa said.
The 28-27 loss to the Cardinals was a gut punch, which dropped the Dolphins to 2-5. A fumbled snap by Tagovailoa – on what looked like a snap with a little too much juice – resulted in a safety. Tagovailoa said he should have caught it, but the Dolphins were mostly undone by a defense that could not slow Kyler Murray.
This is surely not the end of what will be a constant watch for Tagovailoa. He is frustrated by his unwanted role as the poster boy for concussions in the NFL, but more collisions like the one with Hamlin – even incidental – are almost certain for as long as Tagovailoa continues to play. For his part, Tagovailoa said there were no residual nerves or even rust. He had been preparing for five weeks as if he were going to play, even though he was on injured reserve.
Coach Mike McDaniel suggested he thought offensive linemen and receivers took their responsibilities seriously to pass protect and get open, to help Tagovailoa avoid hits. But McDaniel said he did not call the game differently with the idea of protecting Tagovailoa top of mind. He does not know, he said, if a coach can do right by the players if the coach is thinking of anything but how to move the ball and score points.
Miami defensive lineman Calais Campbell said that while he was watching Tagovailoa on his scramble, he was thinking "slide, slide, slide," and McDaniel said he was pretty sure that is what Tagovailoa would do while he watched him head for the sideline. McDaniel was excited that Tagovailoa did not seem to hesitate when he slid.
"When he's mindful and not trying to run defenders over, he's generally able to stay pretty healthy," McDaniel said.
McDaniel handled Tagovailoa's concussion with care and sensitivity. He was careful not to put a timeline on his return even before the team put Tagovailoa on injured reserve, because he did not want to create any additional pressure on his quarterback. Now, he has shepherded Tagovailoa back to the field without incident. He was asked if he was relieved that Tagovailoa's return was behind him.
"I wouldn't say relieved because that would insinuate I was nervous," McDaniel said. "You know, football is football. You try to put together the best plan players can execute, and that's part of the coach's job to put guys in positions to succeed. For him, he does very well when he is able to see the field and we protect well."
Once the squeamishness is reconciled, Tagovailoa is undeniably, absolutely essential to the Dolphins. Miami's offense had been among the league's worst since Tagovailoa's departure, ranking last in scoring and in passing offense since Week 2. It scored 15 points or fewer in each of the last five games. Tagovailoa's impact on the offense was obvious from the first drive Sunday, when the Dolphins scored their first opening-series touchdown of the season. They converted 11 of 15 third-down attempts. They finished with a season high in points scored.
McDaniel was right, of course, when he said last week that Tagovailoa was not the savior for everything that ailed the Dolphins. The defense, which had allowed just 10 and 16 points in the Dolphins' last two games, gave up 389 yards and their third-highest point total of the season. They are in a deep hole, with a daunting game against the Bills next week.
Still, the Dolphins clearly need Tagovailoa to have a chance now and in the future. Tagovailoa has decided he wants a future in football. He just has to keep playing like it.
