Tua Tagovailoa tried to keep his emotions in check Friday night. His focus, however, was on something bigger than a return to the stadium where he spent the first six seasons of his NFL career: earning a starting job with his new team.
Five months after the Miami Dolphins released him and he signed with the Atlanta Falcons, Tagovailoa returned to Hard Rock Stadium. He was greeted by boos from the Miami crowd, but he responded with an efficient performance before Atlanta eventually defeated the Dolphins 17-12 in the preseason.
Tagovailoa completed 7 of 8 passes for 95 yards while playing three series. He led Atlanta on a 60-yard touchdown drive on its opening possession, capped by Brian Robinson Jr.’s 3-yard touchdown run that gave the Falcons a 7-0 lead.
The night also included a couple of costly mistakes. Tagovailoa fumbled the snap to begin Atlanta’s second drive, allowing Miami to recover. His third series ended with another turnover when Dolphins linebacker Jackson Woodard recovered a Robinson fumble at the Miami 13-yard line.
Atlanta finished the game with three turnovers. Still, Tagovailoa’s overall performance provided a positive step as he competes for playing time with the Falcons. The 28-year-old quarterback spent his first six seasons in Miami after the Dolphins selected him with the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Tagovailoa was replaced by Cooper Rush, who delivered a solid performance of his own. Rush completed 13 of 18 passes for 106 yards and a touchdown. Rush connected with Jack Velling on a 3-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter, extending Atlanta’s advantage to 14-3.
Riley Patterson kicked four field goals for Miami, including a 46-yarder early in the second quarter and a 26-yard kick in the third. Nick Folk accounted for one field goal for Atlanta. The Falcons entered the game 1-1 in the preseason and finished with a 2-1 record.
Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta’s expected starter, participated in warmups but did not play. Penix had returned to practice Monday after being sidelined since last November because of a torn ACL in his left knee. Starting tight end Kyle Pitts also saw limited action, playing the first quarter and catching three passes for 59 yards.
Miami’s offense again struggled to find the end zone. The Dolphins went without a preseason touchdown after scoring on their opening drive against Washington on Aug. 14. They had an opportunity to break that drought midway through the third quarter, but rookie wide receiver Theo Wease Jr. dropped Mark Gronowski’s pass in the end zone.
The drive eventually stalled, and Patterson came on to kick his third field goal of the night. Cam Miller started at quarterback for Miami for the second consecutive week and completed 7 of 16 passes for 71 yards. Gronowski replaced him in the second half and finished 4 of 8 for 97 yards while adding 28 rushing yards on four carries.
Miami quarterback Malik Willis did not play for the second straight week. He appeared only during the opening series against Washington. Rookie receiver Chris Bell made his preseason debut and caught two passes for 22 yards. Miami selected Bell in the third round out of Louisville.
For Tagovailoa, the statistics were only part of the story. Returning to the stadium where he played his home games for six seasons was bound to be emotional, particularly after his departure from Miami earlier this year.
The Dolphins’ fans made their feelings known when Tagovailoa took the field, booing their former quarterback. But once the game began, Tagovailoa had a job to do.
His opening touchdown drive showed the poise and accuracy that made him a successful starter during his time with Miami. The fumble on his second series and the turnover on the third prevented the outing from being completely clean, but Atlanta ultimately came away with the victory.
For the Falcons, the preseason game was another opportunity to evaluate their quarterback situation and roster depth.
For Tagovailoa, it was a chance to show his new team that he can still be the quarterback who once led Miami to the playoffs. On a night filled with memories, the next chapter of his career took center stage.
