‘Guys not showing up’: Tagovailoa’s comments raise eyebrows after Dolphins fall to 1-5

(WPLG)

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins’ season hit a new low Sunday, and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa didn’t hold back after another crushing defeat — this time a 29-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers that dropped Miami to 1-5.

Tagovailoa suggested that a lack of accountability and leadership might be contributing to the team’s problems, saying some teammates have skipped or arrived late to players-only meetings.

“I think it starts with the leadership and helping articulate that for the guys, and then what we’re expecting out of the guys,” Tagovailoa said after the game. “We’re expecting ‘this.’ Are we getting that? Are we not getting that? We have guys showing up to player-only meetings late, guys not showing up to player-only meetings. There’s a lot that goes into that.”

Players-only meetings are often a sign of internal issues, and Tagovailoa said the team has been discussing how to “get cleaned up” the smaller problems that have snowballed during a miserable six-game stretch.

“That’s just not the way we want to play football and establish what we’ve been talking about throughout OTAs and training camp,” Tagovailoa said. “Even in our leadership meetings, it’s frustrating.”

The Dolphins reportedly held a players-only meeting after their Week 1 blowout loss to the Indianapolis Colts, but the effort didn’t yield immediate results.

Miami went on to lose back-to-back divisional games to the Patriots and Bills before its only win of the year — a Week 4 victory over the Jets.

However, team leadership has been under scrutiny since the start of the season.

Miami’s captain list, announced before Week 1, notably excluded star receiver Tyreek Hill, who lost his captaincy for the first time since joining the Dolphins.

The six-man group includes Tagovailoa, fullback Alec Ingold, linebacker Jordyn Brooks, center Aaron Brewer, defensive tackle Zach Sieler and edge rusher Bradley Chubb.

Head coach Mike McDaniel, meanwhile, appeared to downplay any talk of dysfunction, saying player-led meetings are not something he directly oversees.

“Player-led meetings are extra things outside of what I demand,” McDaniel said in regard to Tagovailoa’s comments. “We’ve been very accountable. To me, it sounds like there was something on (Tagaovailoa’s) mind with regard to the specific meetings with a couple of individuals that he was trying to get corrected by being direct.”

McDaniel said he believes the team remains responsive to his expectations.

“Everything that I’ve asked of the guys, they have delivered on,” he said. “So I’m sure whomever he’s talking to, they’ll deliver as well.”

But the results haven’t reflected that confidence.

Tagovailoa threw three interceptions against the Chargers — two of them on Miami’s opening and final drives. He now has seven on the season.

On defense, Miami remains among the NFL’s worst against the run, allowing more than 199 rushing yards in consecutive games against the Jets and Panthers.

On Sunday, running back Kimani Vidal — who led the Chargers in carries after Omarion Hampton and Najee Harris were placed on injured reserve — powered the ground game with 18 carries for 124 yards.

McDaniel has previously acknowledged issues with player punctuality, saying last year that some were fined for showing up late to practice, though he did not identify who.

The Dolphins’ season — and McDaniel’s tenure — are now under growing pressure.

The Dolphins (1-5) will travel to Cleveland next Sunday to face the Browns (1-5) at Huntington Bank Field. The Chargers (4-2) return home to take on the Indianapolis Colts (5-1) at SoFi Stadium.

Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.

About The Author
Ryan Mackey

Ryan Mackey

Ryan Mackey is a Digital Journalist at WPLG. He was born on Long Island, New York, and has lived in Sunrise, Florida since 1994.