Tua Tagovailoa in Concussion Protocol; Status for Dolphins' Game vs. Patriots TBD
Dec 26, 2022
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 04: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins attempts a pass during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on December 04, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been placed in the concussion protocol, head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters Monday.
McDaniel said he's not sure when Tua suffered a concussion, but he's in protocol. During the game "nobody recognized anything with regard to" a hit. "It was something he met with doctors today and discussed some symptoms."
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported the NFL Players Association will review the situation. A source told Florio that it's "standard protocol" to review it.
Previously, Tagovailoa most recently suffered an ankle injury at the end of his team's Week 13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, although it wasn't believed to be significant, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Any injury involving the 24-year-old is a concern considering his past durability issues.
Tagovailoa missed two games this season because of a concussion after injuries cost him four games in 2021. A hip issue at Alabama also led to a slow start to his NFL career after being drafted fifth overall in 2020.
The left-hander has totaled 3,548 passing yards and 25 touchdowns through 13 games. He leads the NFL with a 105.5 passer rating.
It's been a breakout year after throwing just 27 passing touchdowns in his first two seasons combined, totaling an 88.8 passer rating in that span.
The Dolphins have Skylar Thompson and Teddy Bridgewater behind Tagovailoa on the depth chart, but the offense could suffer a setback without the starting quarterback, especially as Miami (8-7) fights for a postseason berth.
Although it's been a tough season overall for the Green Bay Packers, they couldn't have handpicked a better set of results in Week 16 to stay in the NFL...
Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Jefferson Headline 2023 Pro Bowl Fan Voting After Final Tally
Dec 19, 2022
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 17: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins warms up prior to a game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on December 17, 2022 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
Tua Tagovailoa's Miami Dolphins are trending in the wrong direction with three straight losses, but he can at least take solace in the fact he has plenty of fan support.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport shared the final AFC and NFC vote-getters for each position for the Pro Bowl, and the Dolphins signal-caller leads all players. He is joined by teammate Tyreek Hill, Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, and Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings in the top five:
The final leaders in fan votes for the Pro Bowl Games, with fans counting 1/3 (along with players and coaches).
The full rosters will be announced Wednesday, but these players have the inside track on landing roster spots.
As Rapoport noted, the fan vote accounts for one-third of the decision-making formula. Coaches and players account for the other two-thirds, but players such as Mahomes, Jefferson and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who are all in starting position after the fan votes were tallied, will surely be named to the rosters.
Tagovailoa is primed to make the first Pro Bowl of his career during a season in which he has led the Dolphins into playoff position at 8-6. He has completed 64.8 percent of his passes for 3,238 yards, 24 touchdowns and five interceptions this season.
Throwing to the likes of Hill and Jaylen Waddle has certainly helped. The former is looking to make the seventh Pro Bowl of his career.
Yet it is a credit to Mahomes, Kelce and the infrastructure in place with the Chiefs that Hill's former team hasn't lost much of a step even without arguably the most dynamic wide receiver in the league.
Kansas City is 11-3 and tied with the Buffalo Bills in the race for the AFC's No. 1 seed and first-round playoff bye. Kelce has 91 catches for 1,144 yards and a league-best 12 touchdowns as a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.
While the idea of Hurts throwing to Jefferson on the NFC side and Mahomes reuniting with Hill and still finding Kelce on the AFC side is surely enticing, there will not be the traditional Pro Bowl game that fans are so accustomed to this season.
Instead, the NFL changed the format for the "Pro Bowl Games" that will feature three flag football games and a series of competitions that will include a relay race.
Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa Discusses Bills Game amid Criticism: 'It Snows in Alabama'
Dec 15, 2022
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 04: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins attempts a pass during the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on December 04, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa seemingly isn't too concerned about the possibility of cold and snowy weather when the Dolphins face the Buffalo Bills on the road Saturday night.
While speaking to reporters Wednesday, the former University of Alabama star made it clear that he has experienced snow before, saying: "It snowed in Alabama my first year. So it snows in Alabama, guys. People don't know that."
With regard to the weather on Saturday, Tua added: "Could be snowing, could rain, I don't know. It's a mindset thing, really, and if I'm too focused and worried about, is it too cold? Can I grab the ball or not? Then I'm focused on the wrong things and it'll be hard to play that way."
Tagovailoa may have seen snow before, but as a native of Hawai'i who played his college football in Alabama and plays his pro football in Florida, it hasn't likely been often.
Per the National Weather Service, the most snowfall in a single year in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, dating back to 1948 is seven inches back in 1959-60. Since then, Tuscaloosa has never had more than four inches in a single year.
Meanwhile, the Buffalo, New York, area often reaches or exceeds 100 inches of snow in a year and got up to 97.4 inches in 2021-22, according to the National Weather Service.
Buffalo is already at 36.9 inches in 2022-23 after the massive storm that hit the area last month, forcing a scheduled home game against the Cleveland Browns to be moved to the Detroit Lions' Ford Field.
Weather is often unpredictable and difficult to forecast in Buffalo, but all signs point toward Saturday being the worst weather game of Tua's career.
The Bills' stadium is located in Orchard Park, New York, and per Weather.com, Saturday's forecast is predicting up to three inches of snow, winds of up to 15 mph and a low temperature of 26 degrees.
When the Dolphins played a road game against the Los Angeles Chargers last week, they used heaters on the sideline in 55-degree weather, which has left many to wonder how they will handle the harsher conditions in Buffalo.
Weather was a major factor in the Dolphins' 21-19 Week 3 win over the Bills, as the extreme heat was a struggle for many of Buffalo's players, especially along the offensive line.
While Miami had the advantage that time, cold and snowy weather figures to play right into the hands of the Bills on Saturday.
The 10-3 Bills can clinch a playoff spot with a win over the 8-5 Dolphins, and while a win wouldn't clinch the AFC East, it would put Buffalo on the precipice of a third consecutive division title.
Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Jefferson Lead 2023 Pro Bowl Voting Returns Ahead of Reveal
Dec 14, 2022
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 04: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins warms up during pregame against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on December 04, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Voting for the 2023 NFL Pro Bowl closes Thursday, and Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson are currently the top two vote-getters.
Tagovailoa has received 182,118 votes and Jefferson has received 177,163 votes, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (172,400), Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (170,034) and Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (168,503) round out the top five.
Here's a deeper look at the AFC and NFC leading vote-getters:
The format of the 2023 Pro Bowl, which will be held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, has been changed from a true football contest to a skills competition as well as a non-contact flag football game. Any player voted to the Pro Bowl is required to participate, barring injury.
With Pro Bowl games of the past lacking intensity, mainly because players didn't want to get hurt, a change to the format was very much needed to make the event more exciting.
The current top vote-getter, Tagovailoa, would be appearing in his first Pro Bowl since being selected fifth overall in the 2020 draft out of Alabama. He has had an impressive season despite missing Weeks 5 and 6 with a concussion.
The 24-year-old has completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 3,004 yards and 22 touchdowns against five interceptions. It has been his best season in the league, and the Dolphins are second in the AFC East with an 8-5 record.
Hill has also contributed to Miami's success in his first season with the team. The 28-year-old has caught 100 passes for 1,460 yards and six touchdowns in 13 games. His receiving yards ranks second in the NFL.
Hill was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first six NFL seasons that were spent with the Chiefs.
Jefferson has been selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first two seasons. The 2020 first-round pick is on pace to surpass the 1,616 yards he posted during the 2021 campaign.
The LSU product has caught 99 passes for a league-best 1,500 yards and six touchdowns in 13 games. Jefferson has played a significant role in Minnesota's success this year, and the Vikings are first in the NFC North with a 10-3 record. The Vikings haven't finished first in their division since the 2017 season.
Finally, the Chiefs duo of Mahomes and Kelce has Kansas City once again sitting atop the AFC West with a 10-3 record, and they are arguably the best quarterback-pass catcher duo in the NFL.
Mahomes has earned a Pro Bowl selection in each season since he became Kansas City's full-time starter in 2018. This season, he has completed 65.8 percent of his passes for 4,160 yards and 33 touchdowns against 11 interceptions in 13 games in addition to rushing for 280 yards and two scores.
The 27-year-old's 4,160 passing yards and 33 touchdowns leads the NFL.
Kelce has earned seven straight Pro Bowl selections since 2015. In 13 games this season, he has caught 81 passes for 1,039 yards and 12 touchdowns. He is tied for the league lead in touchdowns with Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams.
There are currently five players who still have reasonable
odds of taking home the NFL MVP award going into the final four games of the
2022 season. Josh...
Justin or Tua? After SNF, There's No Question Herbert Is the Superior QB
Dec 12, 2022
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 11: Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers passes during a game against the Miami Dolphins at SoFi Stadium on December 11, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Chargers' Justin Herbert and Miami Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa will be forever linked and compared after being back-to-back selections during the 2020 NFL draft, even though one has been clearly better throughout their careers, this season and when their two teams met Sunday night at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
When the two are juxtaposed, the difference is about the same as when the Avengers assemble and Thor and Hawkeye join forces. Herbert has God-given skills and abilities most can't even fathom, while Tagovailoa is a useful teammate with pinpoint accuracy to help in daunting situations.
The difference in natural ability is staggering, though, and was evident during the Chargers' 23-17 victory. The two signal-callers weren't even on the same plane of existence, and it should quiet anyone who believes Tagovailoa has earned elite status.
Sunday's performance showed a quarterback with better poise, pocket movement and natural arm talent, despite playing with a lesser supporting cast.
The 7-6 Chargers—who currently claim the AFC's precious and final seventh spot if the postseason began today—rely on Herbert to elevate the play of everyone around him and lift the team into the playoffs.
"You'll become less and less surprised as the game goes," a high-ranking NFL source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler before the season even began. "He'll be the best QB in the game."
Meanwhile, Tagovailoa is a deadly distributor. He's a sniper capable of picking apart opponents with pinpoint accuracy while working within the confines of Miami's offensive scheme.
Both approaches can be highly successful based on the situation. These comparisons shouldn't be viewed as a slight by any stretch of the imagination. The Dolphins have proved they can put a successful team on the field with a quarterback operating at a high level based on their approach.
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.
The real difference is what happens when everything breaks down. The abilities to work off-platform, make second-window throws and create outside of structure are more important than ever. The likes of Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen have revolutionized how the position is played. Herbert brings those traits to the table.
Los Angeles' record is indicative of the trials and tribulations the roster faced this year. Mainly, the offensive line has three inexperienced starters in first-round guard Zion Johnson, sixth-round left tackle Jamaree Salyer and former undrafted right tackle Foster Sarell.
Herbert presents both subtle movement to escape pressure in the pocket and the athleticism to create when he breaks the pocket. Both are absolutely vital to the offense's success.
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the 24-year-old evaded a career-high five pressures and completed 13 passes on the run—or two more than anyone in a single game since 2016. Herbert currently leads the NFL with 69 completions, 718 passing yards, eight touchdown passes and a positive-11.2 completion percentage over expected when on the move.
Offensive line issues tend to be minimized with a mobile quarterback who doubles as the unit's best playmaker.
In total, Herbert posted a new single-game personal best with 39 completions while moving into first place in passing yardage through the first three seasons of a career.
The type of throws that Herbert completes can be dumbfounding because they shouldn't be possible.
"It's tough," wider receiver Keenan Allen said of catching Herbert's line-drive passes, per ESPN's Lindsey Thiry. "The first year was tough, this year is way slower, and like I said, I think he's just understanding the defense more, understanding how he can throw the passes, understanding when to throw the passes and just not playing all arm."
While the Chargers lack speed on the outside and, oftentimes, healthy targets, their franchise signal-caller throws the ball with staggering placement in unfair angles for defenders befuddled by a pass coming in their direction.
How many quarterbacks are running a designed rollout to their right only to throw the ball across their body, past the opposite hash and 48 yards down the field? Those who should even attempt that type of pass with any hope of completing it can be counted on one hand with fingers to spare.
The Herbert and Mike Williams playmaking duo has been on point all game 🔥 #BoltUp
"He's a special arm talent," Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes told Thiry. "He throws some passes that I don't think anyone can throw in this league, and that includes myself. He has a cannon for an arm, you watch—I watch on film every week because we play similar opponents—there's some throws that you just kind of shake your head because they are just that special."
Conversely, Tagovailoa is a rhythm passer. His anticipation and touch are special, though neither trait has been nearly effective the last two weeks against more aggressive defenses.
Prior to Sunday's contest, the former fifth overall draft pick led the NFL in QB rating and Football Outsider's defense-adjusted value over average metric. His timing and accuracy have been thrown off, and it's shown in his performance.
Tagovailoa completed a paltry 35.7 percent of his passes against the Chargers. The passing game never looked in sync. A week earlier, the San Francisco 49ers held the Dolphins' quarterback to a 54.6 completion percentage.
The difference lies in how those units are handling Miami's dynamic wide receivers.
The Chargers used press coverage for a season-high of 35 percent on detached routes, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Los Angeles' defensive backs jammed at the line of scrimmage and rerouted their targets to throw off the passing game's timing.
Opponents must account for Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle's speed, but the advantage can be negated to a degree when they're not in the right spots once Tagovailoa expects to throw.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa
"A lot of us had an off night," Hill told reporters after the game. "I have to take responsibility, too."
If not for Hill, the Chargers would have posted a blowout victory. A flukish 57-yard scoop-and-score by the speedy wide receiver after Dolphins running back Jeff Wilson Jr. fumbled the ball was Miami's only offensive output during the first half.
Midway through the third quarter, Chargers defensive back Michael Davis tripped over Hill's feet and fell down to leave the league's fastest man wide open for a 60-yard score.
Beyond that, the Dolphins got very little going. They must adapt to teams being far more physical, thus forcing Tagovailoa to readjust on the fly.
While Miami's quarterback accounts for how opponents are now playing him and his talented surrounding cast, Herbert can go about his business being the mightier of the two. He's the option teams take 10 times out of 10 if they're starting a franchise. He's the limitless one.
Fortunately, everyone can put to rest any conversation of these two being of the same caliber after seeing both on the field during the same contest, with Herbert clearly emerging as the victor in both outcome and individual performance.
Brent Sobleski covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, @brentsobleski.
Tua Tagovailoa Criticized for 'Horrible' Performance in Dolphins' Loss to Chargers
Dec 12, 2022
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 11: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins passes during a game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on December 11, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has largely excelled during his breakout third-year NFL campaign, but Sunday evening was a night to forget.
The former Alabama star completed just 10 of 28 passes for 145 yards and one touchdown in a 23-17 road loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Sixty of those yards came on a TD throw to Tyreek Hill, who scored after Bolts defensive back Michael Davis tripped in coverage.
Tagovailoa also had some garbage time yards to pad the stats on a night where he had just 25 yards at halftime against a Chargers defense missing key personnel such as Derwin James Jr. and Joey Bosa.
The 24-year-old entered Sunday completing 68.1 percent of his passes for 21 touchdowns (five interceptions), 9.0 yards per attempt and an NFL-high 112.0 quarterback rating.
But the Chargers stymied Tagovailoa, and Twitter criticized the performance.
Judge a QB when things aren’t perfect. Anyone looks pretty good when comfortable. Herbert, under duress on every throw, is 24 of 29 for 222 yards. Tua is 3 of 15 for 25 yards.
Miami fell to 8-5 with its second straight defeat but remains squarely in the playoff hunt. However, the Dolphins now have another tough test ahead Saturday evening when they visit the AFC-leading Buffalo Bills.
For Week 14, seven out of
13 NFL games feature division battles, which means bettors should be cautious
with heavy favorites because familiarity between...
Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Jefferson Top 2023 NFL Pro Bowl Games Voting Results Update
Dec 7, 2022
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 04: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins warms up during pregame against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on December 04, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Tyreek Hill's former quarterback is looking up at his current one in Pro Bowl voting.
Miami Dolphins signal-caller Tua Tagovailoa paces early results, and Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Hill and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce make up the rest of the top five:
Four of the top five vote-getters play for the Chiefs or Dolphins, notable considering the franchises are tied to each other for some time after their blockbuster trade in March.
Kansas City sent Hill to Miami for five draft picks (three in 2022 and two more in 2023). The star wide receiver then signed a four-year, $120 million extension with the Dolphins.
The trade has worked out for both teams.
Kansas City is 9-3 and sitting atop the AFC West, while Miami is 8-4 and in playoff position. Tagovailoa is enjoying the best season of his career, and three of his team's losses happened when he was sidelined by injury.
The Alabama product has completed 68.1 percent of his passes for 2,859 yards, 21 touchdowns and five interceptions, and Hill and Jaylen Waddle represent one of the best one-two receiving punches in the league.
Mahomes is a Pro Bowl and MVP contender even without Hill, though, and has completed 65.7 percent of his passes for 3,808 yards, 30 touchdowns and eight interceptions. One way to move past the loss of Hill is by having a future Hall of Famer and matchup nightmare at tight end, which is what the Chiefs have in Kelce.
Jefferson is the only NFC representative in the top five, and his Vikings look like Super Bowl contenders at 10-2. He has dazzled with a number of incredible catches and has 1,277 receiving yards in 12 games.
While the players are still competing for votes, this season's Pro Bowl will look quite different.
It will be called the Pro Bowl Games and feature a weeklong series of competitions and three flag football games instead of the traditional game.
