MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa admitted Thursday that he hasn’t been performing to his usual standard as his team looks to rebound from an 0-3 start.
“I haven’t played anywhere near the standard that I’ve played in years past and knowing the standard that I can play to,” Tagovailoa told reporters after practice. “It starts with me — with the offense, getting our guys going. And then the defense being able to feed off of that as well, right? I wouldn’t say that I’ve been playing my best football yet.”
The Dolphins are set to host the New York Jets on Monday Night Football in a matchup of winless teams.
Both Miami and New York have stumbled out of the gate, with the Dolphins losing to the Buffalo Bills in Week 3 after two costly fourth-quarter mistakes and the Jets falling to defeat Tampa Bay without quarterback Justin Fields, who was sidelined by a concussion.
Tagovailoa was rewarded with a lucrative contract after his breakout 2023 season, when he led the NFL in passing yards with 4,624 and helped the Dolphins to a playoff berth.
Since then, however, his play has diminished, with Miami’s offense struggling to find rhythm in the early part of the season.
When asked why his game looks different now than it did during his Alabama days, Tagovailoa pointed to the physical toll of injuries and surgeries.
“One of the biggest changes and differences that I’ve felt would have been some of the surgeries that I’ve had,” he said. “I can kind of feel some of the residuals within my ankles. I was running a little different when I was at Alabama and it’s just not the same. I think that’s normal given the surgeries and everything that comes with the sport.”
Tagovailoa acknowledged that as the leader of the offense, he carries responsibility for getting the Dolphins on track.
The Dolphins will try to avoid an 0-4 start — something the franchise has not experienced since 2019 — when they face the Jets in Sunday’s divisional showdown at Hard Rock Stadium.
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