The Miami Dolphins faced the Chicago Bears in the first week of the preseason, and the spotlight quickly shifted to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s performance. By the start of the second quarter, Tagovailoa, who completed only one series with six pass attempts, was replaced by backup Zach Wilson. Tagovailoa connected on five of those throws for 27 yards, finished without turnovers, and posted a passer rating of 85.4.
Fans took to X to react, with many poking fun at Tagovailoa’s cautious play, highlighting his avoidance of injury rather than his on-field production. The focus on his health rather than his statistics dominated conversations.
Fans Highlight Safety Over Stats in Their Responses
Online supporters expressed relief that Tagovailoa avoided serious injury, often joking that “no concussions” represented a positive outcome in this limited playing time. Some comments acknowledged the small sample size of his performance, while others addressed broader expectations about the quarterback’s role. Criticism was also directed at goal-line struggles by other Dolphins, with some predicting continued team struggles in the regular season.
“And no concussions! That’s a win for him! Now let’s see Ewers,” wrote a fan.
“Two years ago people were trying to put him in Allen, Burrow and Herbert talks btw,” stated this fan.
“At least he didn’t come out of it with a concussion,” a fan tweeted.
“If u actually watched it wasn’t a bad drive from Tua…. Jaylen Wright just got stuffed like 3x at the goal line,” this fan said.
“Thought this was another concussion post,” another fan tweeted.
“This team will not come close to sniffing 8.5 wins,” a fan wrote.
Context on Tagovailoa’s Leadership and Team Dynamics
Beyond preseason performance, Tagovailoa recently addressed issues surrounding wide receiver Tyreek Hill after Miami’s loss to the Jets last season. He emphasized the need for grace and rebuilding relationships when mistakes occur, especially for players constantly in the spotlight. Tagovailoa acknowledged the long process of restoring trust rather than dismissing missteps quickly.
“Everyone makes mistakes, but some people are in the spotlight, and their deals get pushed out more than others, so you know you just have to cut them some grace… When you say something like that you don’t just come back from that with ‘hey my bad’ you gotta work that relationship up, you gotta build everything up again.”
NFL analyst Mike McDaniels commented on Tagovailoa’s remarks during an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show. He interpreted the comments as evidence of Tagovailoa’s growth as a team leader and recognized signs of improving cohesion within the Miami Dolphins squad, which has remained relatively healthy this offseason.
“I thought it was a maturation of Tua as a leader of the team,” McDaniels said. “…also I think it speaks to how healthy they are because there haven’t been that many opportunities for the public to see them interact but as the time passes you’ll see a more connected relationship.”
Looking Ahead: Preseason Uncertainties and Team Outlook
The outcome of the preseason opener between the Miami Dolphins and the Chicago Bears remains uncertain, with fans and analysts watching closely to see how Tagovailoa and his teammates perform moving forward. The preseason sets the stage for evaluating player health and readiness, with the broader question of whether the Dolphins can improve on recent results hanging in the balance.
As the team navigates the challenges of the upcoming season, Tagovailoa’s preseason performance will continue to draw attention not only for its statistical output but also for his leadership and ability to maintain his health amid pressure from fans and media alike.