Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa largely looked like his old self coming off his latest concussion as he guided the Miami Dolphins to three straight victories that improved them to 5-6 on the season.
Following Miami’s impressive 34-15 home win over the New England Patriots on Sunday afternoon, veteran Dolphins defensive tackle Calais Campbell spoke with Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated about how Tagovailoa bounced back from a setback some said should have resulted in the 26-year-old riding off into the sunset of retirement.
“He’s just stayed present and tried to be authentic to himself and be the best version of himself,” Campbell said about Tagovailoa. “Nobody ever wants to go through any kind of injury, especially head injuries. It’s very scary. You go through the process and meet with the specialist and realize that, as long as you’re healthy, you can go out there and play the game you love. And now, he’s very in the moment and enjoying the game as a kid would.”
While Tagovailoa has suffered multiple scary concussions since the start of the 2022 campaign, he insisted after he was sidelined for four games earlier this season that he never considered retiring this time around. Against the Patriots, he completed 29-of-40 passes for 317 yards and four touchdowns to help the Dolphins inch closer to returning to a .500 record.
For better or for worse, Tagovailoa has made it known he will play without fear of what his concussion history could mean regarding his long-term health. Campbell noted how Tagovailoa has a “happy charm” and “a great energy” despite all that’s gone wrong for the signal-caller throughout his career.
“He has a greater appreciation for playing good football,” Campbell added about Tagovailoa. “He’s been really big in the locker room, just for having fun and enjoying the ride. He brings a great energy to work every day, making sure that we have fun every time we’re out there on the football field, through practice, through studying.”
As of Monday morning, the NFL website gave the Dolphins a 15 percent chance to make the playoffs. Miami will try to improve those odds when the club plays at the 8-3 Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving night.
On Monday, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Dolphins as 3.5-point underdogs for that contest.
