Tua Tagovailoa Miami Dolphins quarterback speaks after preseason win
Tua Tagovailoa speaks about Dolphins’ preseason performance
The Miami Dolphins closed the 2024 preseason with a 24-14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday night.
The Dolphins finished 2-1 in the preseason – having previously defeated Atlanta and Washington – but as we all know, that will mean nothing once the regular season begins. The Bucs had split their two preseason games, losing to the Jaguars last week.
Tua Tagovailoa did not play, meaning he will have seen one series during the preseason. But the Dolphins are more concerned with backups Skylar Thompson and Mike White. And there are other key position battles for spots on the final 53-man roster, which will be set on Tuesday. There are also numerous players still nursing injuries, which means they will not be suiting up for a team with Super Bowl aspirations – well, at least from their owner.
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The Bucs plan to play their starters – but Baker Mayfield and Co. will merely see limited action early in the game. Of course, Tampa Bay has a new offensive coordinator and there is some concern about Mayfield’s lack of playing time in the preseason. Dolphins rookie edge rusher Chop Robinson and Bucs veteran left tackle Tristan Wirfs were matched against each other during last week’s joint practice but that likely won’t come to pass in the game either.
Which is why we could see only one or two preseason games in 2025 since teams keep proving the starters do not have to see much action in August to be ready for the start of the season in September.
Tampa Bay leading 24-14 with 11:46 left. Ex-Florida quarterback Kyle Trask is 16-for-22 for 139 yards and two TDs.
Assistant Head Coach/Tight Ends Coach Jon Embree has been handling head coaching duties in the second half. “I’m going to return favors,” Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said. “Really excited for him, the guys are pumped. He just spoke to the team; we were fired up. The adversity is an opportunity to see how a head coach operates down 10.”
Skylar Thompson tosses 1-yard TD pass to receiver Kyric McGowan later in the third quarter and Miami is making some noise in the second half. Score capped an 11-play, 76-yard scoring drive against plenty of players who will not be playing in a couple of weeks.
Second-year wide receiver Erik Ezukanma is wearing a boot on his left foot during pregame warmups in Tampa
Tua Tagovailoa threw to receivers in street clothes in pregame warmups in Tampa.
Backup quarterbacks Skylar Thompson and Mike White were both suited up and throwing ahead of the Bucs preseason matchup.
Tampa will enter the final game of the preseason as a 3-point favorite over the Miami Dolphins.
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By Max Winters Published: 23:35 BST, 20 September 2024 | Updated: 00:03 BST, 21 September 2024
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