WASHINGTON, Sept 21, 2023 (AFP) – A year after Tua Tagovailoa went down with head injuries that changed how the NFL handles concussions, the Miami quarterback is the league’s top passer and the Dolphins are undefeated.
The 25-year-old signal-caller leads Miami (2-0) into a home game Sunday against winless Denver (0-2) with an NFL-best 715 passing yards off 49 receptions from 75 attempts and four touchdowns with two interceptions.
It was in the third week of last season when Tagovailoa was wobbled but returned with what was diagnosed as a back injury and sparked a win over Buffalo, with the NFL players union investigating over concussion protocol policy.
Four days later against the Cincinnati Bengals, Tagovailoa was taken off the field on a stretcher with head and neck injuries. The NFL and union would tighten concussion protocol as a result of Tagovailoa’s situation, wobbly on-field staggers requiring greater examination.
Tagovailoa returned but would miss Miami’s last three games after another concussion, prompting work in the off-season to better handle hits to the ground.
Now Tagovailoa has the chance at a unique NFL mark by winning a 10th consecutive game over a Super Bowl-winning coach with the Broncos guided by Sean Payton, who coached New Orleans to a 2010 Super Bowl triumph over Indianapolis.
“It’s a team sport,” Tua said of the streak. “You win games with the team and I’ve been very fortunate to have great teammates. We’re just in here day-in and day-out trying to do everything we can to win.”
The Dolphins reached the playoffs for the first time since the 2016 campaign last season. They haven’t won a playoff game since 2000 and haven’t won a Super Bowl since 1973.
“It’s so early in the season,” said Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel. “Two wins in two games is whatever. Our goals are much bigger than that.”
The NFL campaign’s first two weeks have seen season-ending injuries for New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb and Baltimore Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins.
– Dallas loses Diggs –
The Dallas Cowboys, who take a 2-0 record to Arizona (0-2) on Sunday, added to that list Thursday after cornerback Trevon Diggs suffered a torn knee ligament in practice and left the field on crutches.
Diggs, who led the NFL in 2021 with 11 interceptions, signed a five-year contract extension worth $97 million in July. He made his first pickoff of the 2023 season last week and was a key player in a defensive unit that allowed only an NFL-low 10 points in two games.
The Browns, who entertain Tennessee in a matchup of 1-1 clubs, were trying to get past Chubb’s injury with Kareem Hunt back in Cleveland to replace him.
Browns quarterback DeShaun Watson warns it won’t be easy to move on.
“We can’t recover from an injury like that with Nick. That’s tough,” Watson said. “All we can do is just continue to try to move forward and next person has got to step up.
“But that’s always going to be in the back of our minds, if Chubb was here, the things he would say and work ethic he would put in. You can’t replace that.”
Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow was limited in workouts with a sore right calf. The Bengals’ 0-2 start has him pushing to return quickly as his backup, Jake Browning, has thrown one NFL pass and the team is 2-5 with Burrow injured entering Monday’s visit by the Los Angeles Rams (1-2).
“It’s in my head for sure. I’m thinking about it,” Burrow said.
“You don’t want to start 0-2. That’s not what we were planning on at all. We’re going to bounce back. That’s what we do.”
Added Bengals coach Zac Taylor: “Soreness is an issue right now, so giving him some time is best.”
Other NFL games Sunday find Atlanta at Detroit, New Orleans at Green Bay, the Los Angeles Chargers at Minnesota, New England at the New York Jets, Buffalo at Washington, Indianapolis at Baltimore, Houston at Jacksonville, Chicago at Kansas City, Carolina at Seattle and Pittsburgh at Las Vegas.
The week’s only matchup of unbeatens is Monday with Philadelphia (2-0) at Tampa Bay (2-0).