Sunday will mark the first time in Tua Tagovailoa‘s career in which he’s played in all 17 games.
It’s not a rare feat — plenty of players do it each year — but for Tagovailoa, it’s a massive checkpoint on his NFL journey. The often-injured quarterback entered the 2023 offseason with a primary goal: stay healthy. And when he takes the field for Miami’s Sunday night affair against Buffalo, he’ll have achieved what he couldn’t in 2022.
“Taking pride in it is something I do a lot,” said Tagovailoa on Wednesday. “However, I also take pride in contributing to our team’s victories. When I reflect on some of the games we’ve lost, I wish I could redo certain plays. I wish we could have approached some things differently. I believe those aspects linger more in my mind than my current position in this season. They’re things that I could have improved on to assist our team.”
Tagovailoa might regret the errors and turnovers, including the two interceptions that aided the Ravens in defeating the Dolphins in Week 17. However, his presence on the field is still a significant improvement from where he had left the Dolphins at different times in 2022.
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Tagovailoa’s 2023 campaign has not been completely devoid of injuries. He sustained an arm laceration during Miami’s Black Friday victory over the Jets, leading to his placement on the injury report. Currently, he is grappling with a shoulder issue.
Tagovailoa fortunately stated that his shoulder won’t prevent him from playing.
“Brother, my shoulder is fine,” he stated. “Everything is fine. I appreciate your concern.”
In an unusually bad year for quarterback health across the league, Tagovailoa has outlasted all but 12 quarterbacks in starting 16 games through 17 weeks. He’s part of a select group that includes Josh Allen, Jordan Love, Baker Mayfield, Jared Goff, Derek Carr (who has fought through multiple injuries to remain available), Jalen Hurts, Dak Prescott, Sam Howell, Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes. Tagovailoa’s season has been the polar opposite of the situations the Vikings, Browns and Jets have found themselves in this year.
Considering Purdy, Jackson, and Mahomes are expected to be benched in Week 18, and the uncertainty surrounding Mayfield’s status for the final regular season game, Tagovailoa might join the exclusive club of possibly just eight quarterbacks to start all 17 games. If you had asked an average fan back in August if Tagovailoa would achieve this feat, chances are they would have dismissed the idea with laughter.
Tagovailoa has reached this stage due to his offseason efforts, excellent performance, and a touch of fortune. The leading passer in the NFL aims to maintain his streak in an important game against Buffalo prior to entering the playoffs.
