One Miami Dolphins player believes Tua Tagovailoa’s on-field struggles are largely mental.
In an appearance on Johnny Manziel’s “Glory Daze” podcast, Dolphins tight end Darren Waller marveled at how good Tagovailoa looks behind closed doors in practice, then contrasted it with the quarterback’s play during games. Waller believes Tagovailoa is still dealing with injury trauma that prevents the quarterback from really letting loose during games.
“When I showed up in training camp, I’m watching this man throw darts every practice,” Waller said. “I’d never seen the anticipation and the accuracy. What I think some of the disconnect comes from, I think there might be some trauma still stored in his body from what he’s gone through with the hits.
“I can notice him trying to make things happen in the game. He’s trying to pull the trigger, but it’s almost like his body and his system won’t allow him to do it. If there’s a way for him to find some healing in that regard, I think the skillset is definitely still there.”
Tagovailoa’s history of frightening injuries is no secret. He has endured multiple concussions, and even some of his peers publicly felt he should retire to avoid further injury. The quarterback did not do so, but endured a difficult 2025 season, throwing 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
Waller just finished his first season with Tagovailoa, so if he is noticing that tentativeness, there might be something to it. Whether that can be fixed is another question, but perhaps a fresh start with a new organization would be beneficial for all involved.
