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Darren Waller Links Tua Tagovailoa’s Game Struggles to Lingering Trauma From Head Injuries

The tight end says past concussions may be inhibiting the quarterback despite strong practice showings.

Overview

  • Waller shared his view on Johnny Manziel’s Glory Daze podcast on Jan. 16, citing psychological effects from prior head injuries as a possible culprit.
  • He said Tagovailoa displays elite anticipation and accuracy in practice that he has not replicated in games.
  • Tagovailoa posted his lowest passer rating and QBR since 2021 and led the NFL with 15 interceptions in 2025.
  • The Dolphins benched him after a Week 15 loss, demoted him to emergency quarterback, and started rookie Quinn Ewers for the final three games.
  • Miami faces limited options because Tagovailoa has $54 million guaranteed for 2026 and a reported $99 million dead-cap hit, with recent leadership changes including Mike McDaniel’s firing and Jon-Eric Sullivan’s hiring.