Everything that occurred Thursday evening in Cincinnati appeared irrelevant the second Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was slammed to the bottom within the second quarter in such a means you knew there was a major problem. Tua stayed personal. The workforce lined close to him as he went off on a stretcher. He was taken to the close by University of Cincinnati hospital and the Dolphins introduced was, “conscious and has movement in all his extremities.”
This is the nightmare of any soccer participant and it’s compounded by questions that started final Sunday when Tua returned from what the workforce initially introduced as a head harm. It certain appeared that means when he went woozy after his head bounced on the sector. But Tua returned to play, introduced it was really a again challenge and, effectively, a NFL neurologist allowed him to return with the concept he didn’t have a concussion.
The gamers’ union, although, introduced it was launching an investigation, suggesting that issues appeared as odd as they performed out. And … effectively, 4 days later Tua was thrown to the bottom by Cincinnati defensive lineman Josh Tupou and he suffered what appeared be a severe challenge. Let’s enable the info to come back in on Tua’s situation. The excellent news: He was anticipated to be launched from the hospital and return with the workforce to South Florida. But there’s going to be some extra questions on these final 4 days and the handing of Tua. It facilities on the easy query that may put the NFL and the Dolphins underneath a microscope: Should Tua have been enjoying Thursday evening?
2. Quote of the evening: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tua’s former Dolphins teammate, mentioned on the Amazon halftime set with Tony Gonzalez and Richard Sherman: “We all played a lot of football, but that’s one of the toughest things I’ve ever seen.”
3. Tweet of the evening: The league introduced that protocol was adopted in Tua’s examination Sunday. The NFLPA’s investigation hasn’t began is incvestigation. But others within the medical neighborhood are weighing in. From Chris Nowinski, a neurologist who tweeted, “This is a disaster. Pray fo Tua. Fire the medical staffs and coaches. I predicted this and I hate that I am right. Two concussions and 5 days can kill someone. This can end careers. How are we so stupid in 2022.”
OK, it was a bit onerous to concentrate on the sport after Tua’s harm. It was little doubt for the gamers particularly. But since there was a recreation:
4. Player of the sport: Cincinnati security Vonn Bell with two interceptions. Teddy Bridgewater entered for Tua within the second quarter and accomplished six of his first seven passes for 71 yards, a landing and a 148.5 quarterback score. So there was no rust from sitting out for weeks. There was, nonetheless, a expensive interception as he was shifting the Dolphins for the would-be go-ahead landing within the fourth quarter. On second-and-10 on the Cincinnati 26, security Bell acquired his second interception on the 9-yard line and returned it to the Miami 45.
5. The Dolphins come out of the is begin 3-1. You’d have taken that and run with it a month in the past. You’d be pleased with 2-2 — even 1-3 wouldn’t have wrecked the season relying on how they performed. New England. At Baltimore. Buffalo And at Cincinnati. The Dolphins have been successful within the fourth quarter, too, even with all the pieces that occurred this recreation. Bottom-line: 3-1 is a good way for the Dolphins to begin this season.
6. The Dolphins protection anticipated to be dog-tired after enjoying 90 pays towards Buffalo on Sunday. When Cincinnati took the opening possession 75 yards down the sector for a landing, it appeared to strengthen that concept. But the protection didn’t break this evening and, till Xavien Howard left with an harm, gave Cincinnati matches. Case in level: Cincinnati ran the ball 28 instances for 69 yards (2.5-yard common). The downside was it couldn’t get off the sector sufficient once more. After Buffalo went 9-of-16 on third downs, Cincinnati went eight of 15. Numbers like that encourage lengthy drives.
7. When Cincinnati receiver Tee Higgins acquired deep within the second quarter for a 59-yard landing, it once more put the concentrate on Howard. You put him on an island just like the Dolphins have once more this yr and he’s going to get beat at instances, particularly when he battling a groin challenge after which goes out of the sport with a leg challenge. As Amazon’s Al Michaels mentioned, “No fear picking on Howard tonight.” Howard has been the Dolphins finest participant the final couple of years and so the protection on Higgins’ landing wasn’t uncommon. Both Dolphins safeties moved to the opposite aspect as they did this recreation to assist a extra inexperienced cornerback (Nik Needham, Kaher Kohou or Keon Crossen , the place receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd labored. That left Howard with alone and Higgins working into the tip zone. Of course, when Howard left the sport within the second half, Joe Burrow started selecting aside the Dolphins.
8. How did Kansas City ever do away with Tyreek Hill? He’s been the most effective participant on the sector all 4 Dolphins’ video games this yr. On Thursday evening, his 64-yard catch from Bridgewater arrange the Dolphins on the Bengals’ 5-yard line within the third quarter. They simply acquired a discipline aim out of that. But he acquired deep earlier within the recreation and Tua underthrew him. He moved the protection all evening, too, clearing out area for others in a way that confirmed how they worry his affect. Through 4 video games, he’s clearly the Dolphins’ MVP.
9. The Dolphins working recreation stays a problem. Where was it a lot of the evening? This is a recreation Mike McDaniel needed to go in desirous to eat up some clock and preserve the protection on the sideline. Then, with the lack of Tua, that solely added to the concept. Through three quarters, the Dolphins ran for 40 yards on 15 carries (2.7-yard common). Cincinnati has an excellent run protection, rating eighth within the league, however was with out its prime defensive sort out, D.J. Reader. The Dolphins ran for 65, 86 and 41 yards the primary three weeks. That’s not a lot. The assertion play: Third-and-inches at their 34, Chase Edmonds is thrown for a one-yard loss and the Dolphins punt. In the fourth quarter, Raheem Mostert acquired unfastened a few instances and ended with 15 carries for 69 yards.
10. Next week: Dolphins at New York Jets on Oct. 9. After a small break, the Dolphins go to the Meadowlands to play the 1-2 Jets. Quarterback Zach Wilson is predicted to return for this Sunday towards Pittsburgh after lacking the opening 4 video games. After a tricky opening schedule of New England, at Baltimore, Buffalo and Thursday evening at Cincinnati, the Jets signify the beginning of a schedules that eases up some for the Dolphins. After the Jets, the Dolphins play Minnesota and Pittsburgh at house earlier than happening he street at Detroit and Chicago.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com