Tua Tagovailoa’s time with the Miami Dolphins could be close to an end. The quarterback was placed on the bench after a poor performance in Week 15 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Quinn Ewers is set to start in the final three games. Zach Wilson will be the backup, with Tagovailoa demoted to emergency quarterback.
Performance is a big reason why Tua was dropped, but some of his actions as a franchise quarterback also did not appease fans or the staff. Ultimately, it became an easy call for the Miami Dolphins, and his stint with the team could be over.
JJ Watt Criticizes Tua Tagovailoa For Laughing After Dolphins’ Elimination Against Steelers
Tagovailoa’s actions as the leader of the team sparked controversy in recent years, especially about the optics to people outside the organization. His press conferences had many questionable moments, and, combined with his play on the field, a change became more and more likely.
One moment that could be described as the nail in the coffin happened after the Dolphins’ loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday, which ended their season. Tua was seen laughing with former teammate Jalen Ramsey, who left the Dolphins acrimoniously in the offseason, after the game.
Former NFL superstar JJ Watt, who now works as an analyst, did not appreciate the quarterback’s actions. In an interview, Watt spoke about how optics are important for star players in a team and how Tua should have portrayed himself better after a big loss:
“I’m a believer that there’s at least a minimal responsibility on the optics and everything with the fanbase, understanding how everybody’s feeling after a certain game, or after a way the season is going. I’m not here saying ‘don’t laugh, you can’t talk to a friend’ or anything like that. But I do think there’s some optics”, said Watt.
The Dolphins were dominated by the Steelers and lost 28-15. Their four-game win streak ended with no hope, with Pittsburgh dominating from the second quarter onwards. The elimination was a result of an awful start to the year, including a 2-6 record until the end of October.
Tagovailoa’s performances were cause for great concern in the organization. He’s one of the best-paid quarterbacks in the NFL, signing a four-year $212.4 million contract in 2024, but he currently has a 72.1 Impact Score in our PFSN QB Impact Metric, putting him at No. 25 for the season.
With 15 interceptions in 14 games, there was a huge cause for concern in on-field performances. The optics about Tagovailoa are not the best at the moment. Head coach Mike McDaniel is on the hot seat, and he had no choice but to change his quarterback for the rest of the season.
