Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins ‘to simmer’ on loss to Chiefs

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has lots to consider this offseason, notably after his workforce’s 26-7 loss Saturday to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs within the AFC wild-card spherical.

His upcoming contract negotiation, in the meanwhile, is just not on the forefront of his thoughts.

As he enters the ultimate yr of his rookie contract, Tagovailoa mentioned he isn’t anxious about getting an extension this offseason and that he feels assured in what he brings to the Dolphins’ franchise.

“I do not really feel any strain in any respect. I’ve full belief in myself,” he mentioned. “I’ve full belief in what I am able to doing for our group, however outdoors of that we’re specializing in tonight and what occurred, we will simmer on this and see what we are able to do to get higher from it.”

After a 2022 season wherein he suffered two concussions and missed 5 video games, together with Miami’s playoff loss to the Buffalo Payments, Tagovailoa’s well being was a focus coming into the 2023 season. He spent the offseason constructing muscle and coaching in a breakfall jiu-jitsu program to basically learn to fall and forestall hitting his head on the bottom — which induced each concussions in 2022.

Tagovailoa’s offseason coaching labored; he began all 17 video games for the Dolphins this season and led the NFL in passing yards with 4,624 whereas setting profession highs in passing yards, touchdowns (29) and completion share (69.3). He was additionally named because the AFC’s Professional Bowl beginning quarterback for the primary time in his profession.

However the Dolphins’ offense, which completed second within the NFL in factors per sport with 29.2, faltered down the stretch of the common season, as did its quarterback.

Tagovailoa threw 4 touchdowns in opposition to 5 interceptions in Miami’s last three video games, together with Saturday’s loss to the Chiefs. In his playoff debut in opposition to Kansas Metropolis, he accomplished 20-of-39 passes for 199 yards — 53 of which got here on a landing go to vast receiver Tyreek Hill early within the second quarter — with one landing and one interception.

The Dolphins averaged 304.6 yards throughout their last three video games, almost a 100-yard drop-off from the 401.3 yards they averaged over the whole common season.

“I’d say there’s been quite a lot of ups and downs,” Tagovailoa mentioned when requested in regards to the 2023 season. “Lots of guys that began the season out with us after which weren’t capable of end the season with us. So, quite a lot of ups and downs with the accidents. However for our workforce, we by no means wish to use any of these issues as an excuse and we’re not going to make use of any of that as an excuse.”

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel declined to single Tagovailoa out as the basis reason behind Miami’s offensive struggles, saying that everybody wanted to enhance coming into his third offseason with the workforce.

“I do know he made some good performs tonight,” McDaniel mentioned. “I do know there’s performs that he needs to have again, and there is some calls that I made that I favored and there was undoubtedly some that I wish to have again — and I believe that goes throughout the board. There was quite a lot of actually good issues and we have all discovered to have excessive expectations for that unit, and 7 factors is not adequate.

“We’ll must dwell with that and study from that as we attempt to take one other step.”

Tagovailoa has one yr remaining on his rookie deal, value $23.17 million in 2024. Three different quarterbacks from Tagovailoa’s 2020 draft class signed contract extensions final offseason.

The Cincinnati Bengals signed Joe Burrow to a five-year deal value $275 million in September, whereas the Los Angeles Chargers signed Justin Herbert to a five-year, $262 million extension in July. Jalen Hurts inked a five-year, $255 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles in April.