Fantasy managers, Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill has a message. Without further ado, let’s roll the tape: “We’re back, baby! Strike up the (expletive) band, baby. Start me this week, baby. Let’s go!”
Hill, his Miami teammates and most of Southern Florida are excited because quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is preparing to make his first start since Week 2. And while seeing Tagovailoa back in the lineup after a fourth concussion is also a little disconcerting, it’s also comforting. Without the quarterback in the huddle, Tagovailoa’s three replacements combined to go 1-3 with a 75.3 passer rating, with 14 sacks in four-plus games.
“Just having him in the lineup,” Hill said, “having him call the plays, having him direct the offense … just hearing his voice, I know that sounds crazy but he’s a big part of this team.”
Such a big part that head coach Mike McDaniel is 20-13 (.606) when Tagovailoa starts and 2-7 (.222) when he doesn’t. The Dolphins (2-4) are hosting Arizona (3-4) on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium (1 p.m. ET, FOX).
“I think it will be a big deal considering he’s the captain and leader of this franchise,” McDaniel said Wednesday. “The franchise QB that without question when the players are voting for the captains, he has the most votes. That to me is the best way to establish an indicator of who they feel is their leader. He had tremendous growth each year, particularly this year, in terms of that and being a leader and what that means and growing into that.
“I think during this stretch where he hasn’t been on the field, he’s at even a more powerful place with the team just based upon his feet on the ground and not just saying but showing his love for the team and his teammates is stronger than his individual circumstance. He signed up to play, not coach on the sidelines in the white. I think that, overall, the team will be very excited to have their quarterback back.”
That includes the defense, which ranks fourth in the NFL, allowing just 285.2 yards per game. The Dolphins also own the league’s best pass defense (154.5) as they prepare for Kyler Murray and the Cardinals coming off a Monday night win over the Chargers.
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