Mike McDaniel and Tua Tagovailoa are out of answers to protect Dolphins QB

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoas long-term mental health first came into question in 2022 when he was carried off the field on a stretcher after colliding with the ground. It was certainly a scary sight, especially after Tagovailoa had an unnatural hand movement as a result of the collision. He suffered his second concussion on Christmas Day against the Green Bay Packers: these two injuries and their proximity put his future in doubt.

It wasn’t until earlier this year that he suffered another head injury after a terrifying collision with Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin. He would be placed on injured reserve, with many fans suggesting he should retire. Tagovailoa balked, even refusing to wear a guard for extra protection. He returned against the Arizona Cardinals.

On Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams, he threw a pick and in an attempt to make a tackle, Tagavailoa took a leg to the head. The sight would be enough for a normal person to say, “Not again.” But Tagovailoa said after the game“No, I didn’t feel anything about that. However, that was a pretty bad form of approach. That was pretty terrible.”

McDaniels can breathe a sigh of reliefbut he had this to add:

“I think the best way to do that is not to throw it at the opponent. These are the moments when I feel the growth of the three years the most. When things don’t go right, he gets mad at himself and holds himself to a high standard, but he also recognizes that he is the franchise quarterback of this team. So you cannot go too deeply into your own self-lashing. You have to lead and you have to move on, good or bad. I thought he was really good at taking those L’s, so to speak, and it didn’t affect his play as he progressed and progressed in the game. I was very happy with that.”

McDaniel clearly dodged the question in this case, perhaps wrongly. Yes, not throwing the interception would prevent Tagovailoa from having to make a tackle. However, this is the NFL and choices will be made. So saying that this is the solution leaves a lot to be desired.

The Dolphin lost three of four in Tagovailoa’s absence. The Dolphins and Tagovailoa need to figure out how to do that protect him before losing him for more than the injured reserve minimum.