MIAMI GARDENS — Although we know that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is on injured reserve, indications of how he’s dealing with his latest concussion are trickling out.
We know he has been at the facility, not only working with the medical staff but trying to assist teammates preparing for Sunday’s game.
Coach Mike McDaniel said Tagovailoa said Friday he is traveling with the team to Seattle.
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 12: Head coach Mike McDaniel of the Miami Dolphins embraces Tua Tagovailoa #1 after leaving the game with an injury during the third quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium on September 12, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
And Friday afternoon, running back Raheem Mostert shared that the day after Tagovailoa suffered the concussion on last week’s edition of Thursday night football against Buffalo, he was still well enough to go on a family outing to Disney on Ice. Mostert said he, Tagovailoa and tight end Jonnu Smith all attended.
“We took our families to Disney on Ice and it was a lot of just, just being with the kids and sharing that moment with our kids and each other,” Mostert said. “ … It was good to just see him out there, see him doing his daily activities and just being Tua.”
Mostert said Tagovailoa did not appear affected during the outing.
“Not at that moment, no, he didn’t,” Mostert said. “But I think that he was more dialed in on his family, even my kids. He was having fun with them. He seemed to be doing good then and he’s doing good now.”
Although McDaniel said he’s pessimistic that Mostert (chest) can play Sunday, Mostert said it depends on how he’s feeling closer to game time. Mostert said after the injury happened in the opener against Jacksonville, it was painful to breathe.
“Everything seems like it’s trending up,” he said. “I was getting some reps out there. I was kind of limited here and there, but I’m feeling good.”
Having spent six years with the San Francisco 49ers, Mostert is no stranger to playing in Seattle, in front of its famed “12th man” noise.
“The 12th man is really real,” Mostert said. “And if you control them and get some big shots down the field and make some key stops, it’s easy to control that crowd and keep them quiet.”
He added, “It gives you a lot of thrill to go out there and try to win and try to beat up on the 11th man and also the 12th man.”
Analogy of the year candidate: Anthony Weaver
Credit defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver for not relying on any cliche to describe what happened on James Cook’s 49-yard touchdown run for the Bills against the Dolphins.
On the play, the Dolphins failed to maintain “gap integrity,” giving Cook a wide running lane to burst through.
“It’s funny,” Weaver said of the play. “This morning — and it wasn’t in reference to that play, it was just in reference to the defensive play overall — I was talking to our guys about DoorDash and I was like, ‘How many of us have ordered DoorDash?’ ”
Timeout. Doordash can deliver linebackers? Who knew?
Back to Weaver:
“And I was referencing a time where me and my wife, we ordered all these snacks for our kids and as soon as the bag showed up at the front door, we knew the order was wrong. We were like, ‘Come on.’ We’ve all been there, and you’re pissed off and you’re angry. And I go, ‘Well, why did that happen?’
“Poor communication that led to poor execution, and really that’s what happened on that play. Our comms kind of — there was a breakdown in communication and ultimately, we left the gap unfilled. It’s not about pointing the finger. It’s about getting it corrected. And again, I think the more we can talk, the less we allow those negative plays like that to happen.”
DK Metcalf presents an imposing challenge to Dolphins’ secondary
DK Metcalf, Seattle’s Pro Bowl receiver, is 6-feet-4 and 235 pounds and he’s coming off a 129-yard performance that clearly has the Dolphins’ attention.
“Metcalf looks like he can come out and play outside backer for them, too, if he wants to,” Weaver said. “He’s that big and that fast and that powerful.”
Weaver’s not wrong. At 6-4, Metcalf is shorter than only one of Miami’s linebackers (Jaelan Phillips, who’s 6-5). And two of the Dolphins’ linebackers are lighter (David Long Jr., Duke Riley).
