miami dolphins

Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa Dealing With Illness, Still Set To Start Against Atlanta Falcons

Justin Rimpi

The Miami Dolphins can’t catch a break. Just when you thought things couldn’t get worse for a team sitting at 1-6, here comes another curveball. Tua Tagovailoa popped up on the injury report Sunday morning with an illness—because apparently, interceptions weren’t enough to worry about.

But before Dolphins fans completely panic (too late?), there’s some good news: Tagovailoa has no game status designation and is still expected to suit up against the Atlanta Falcons. So, grab your antacids and buckle up, Miami faithful. This roller coaster isn’t stopping anytime soon.

Tagovailoa’s Rough Stretch Continues

Let’s be real—Tagovailoa hasn’t exactly been lighting up the stat sheet this season. Through seven games, he’s thrown for 1,313 yards and 11 touchdowns. Not terrible on paper, right? Well, here’s the kicker: those 10 interceptions are tied for the league lead. Yikes.

Last week’s disaster against the Cleveland Browns really put things in perspective. Tagovailoa completed just 12 of 23 passes for a measly 100 yards, zero touchdowns, and three picks. He got benched in the fourth quarter, and honestly, it was hard to blame Head Coach Mike McDaniel. Quinn Ewers came in and immediately threw for 53 yards in just two drives—more than half of what Tagovailoa managed all game.

This is the same guy who torched defenses in 2023, throwing for 4,624 yards and 29 touchdowns while completing nearly 70% of his passes. That performance earned him a four-year, $212.4 million extension, making him the highest-paid player in franchise history. Now? He’s fighting just to keep his job, battling both poor play and now an illness.

Dolphins Desperate to Avoid Disaster

Miami’s season is teetering on the edge of disaster. A loss to the Falcons would drop them to 1-7, their worst start since 2021. And it’s not just Tagovailoa who’s struggling—this team is falling apart. Tyreek Hill is out with a knee injury. Tight Ends Darren Waller and Julian Hill are on IR. Even rookie Cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. just landed on IR with a hamstring issue.

The Dolphins are limping into this game, literally and figuratively. Tagovailoa will have to dig deep and find that 2023 magic if Miami wants any shot at salvaging this season. The pressure is mounting, the roster is thin, and the margin for error is practically nonexistent.

Can Tagovailoa Turn Things Around?

Here’s the million-dollar question: Can Tagovailoa shake off this illness and rediscover his groove? The guy’s got talent—we’ve seen it. But right now, he’s playing like someone trying to justify a massive contract while carrying the weight of an entire franchise on his shoulders.

This isn’t just about football anymore. It’s about pride, legacy, and proving he belongs among the league’s elite quarterbacks. The Dolphins need their franchise QB to step up, and they need it now. Whether he’s battling the flu or the Browns’ defense, Tagovailoa has to find a way to deliver. Because if he doesn’t? Well, let’s just say Quinn Ewers might be getting more than just garbage-time reps.

Justin has been a sportswriter for nearly a decade. He has previously written for 247 Sports an Sports Illustrated.

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