Tua Tagovailoa Injury: Mike McDaniel Expects His QB to Return in 2024; Insider Advises Against It

The Dolphins need their QB back, period. Tua Tagovailoa will be eligible to return in Week 8, and though HC Mike McDaniel did not commit to a date, he did say that the 26-year-old could make a full return this year. That, according to Mike Florio, is not a great idea.

Tua has been on injured reserve for the past four weeks due to the concussion he sustained on September 12. The injury could have serious repercussions for the player. The latest was the third reported concussion of his career. His history with concussions, and the severity of the one he suffered in the game against the Bills, have compelled many to advise him to retire.

However, just letting him sit out this season should be enough, feels Florio. The insider adds that the Fins’ 2024 season is in shambles anyway, and there’s not much Tua will be able to do even if he returns:

“There’s a point where you just say, ‘there’s no reason to put him back on the field…’ Get him through the season, make a decision after the season, without the urgency of a game or a season riding on it.”

Florio isn’t really optimistic about the Dolphins’ season and hence thinks it’s advisable that Tua take the rest of the season off. Especially, if backup quarterback Tyler Huntley can’t win more games for Miami.

The Fins are now 2-3 in the season, and their star-studded offense with Tyreek Hill, De’Von Achane, and Jaylen Waddle has sputtered with Skylar Thompson and Huntley at quarterback.

Huntley was acquired from the Baltimore Ravens practice squad and started his first game two weeks later. In his two games, he has thrown for 290 yards, with no touchdowns, and an interception. There’s been a lack of chemistry with him and the WRs but that is a given considering his unfamiliarity with the offense.

However, the bye week has given him a chance to familiarize himself with the offense, and according to McDaniel, things are looking optimistic.

Huntley’s bye-week prep

McDaniel is feeling a lot more confident with Huntley at starter. McDaniel noted that the bye week was a chance for Huntley to “really jump into” the finer points of the offense, stating, “I promise you that you have to be a very, very well-oiled professional to command the offense the way he has.” 

McDaniel is so confident in Huntley’s abilities that Huntley will continue starting even if Skylar Thompson is able to return before Tua.

Huntley, for his part, truly jumped into the offensive playbook during the bye week. And even ran routes with Jaylen Waddle and Jonnu Smith, both of whom were happy to oblige. But that was not all. According to Smith, they “talked through concepts…put ourselves in real-game scenarios.”

“Repping plays gives us a better chance to feel more comfortable,” Huntley said of their unofficial practice. As the Dolphins gear up to face the Colts, Huntley has a chance to register one more win for his new team, and prove that he’s got the juice.