Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa to make first NFL start against the Rams

The Miami Dolphins selected quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Alabama, and according to multiple sources he will make his first career start in Week 8 against the Los Angeles Rams. The Dolphins are on a bye this week.

Tagovailoa suffered a dislocated hip, fractured posterior wall, broken nose and concussion on a sack against Mississippi State last year, causing him to miss the rest of the college season, plus draft preparation time and offseason preparation for his pro career. This is the reason that veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick has held the number one job for all of 2020, but also because Fitzpatrick had been doing quite well.

The Dolphins are 3-3 and ranked 11th in DVOA. They’ve won three of their last four games, all by blowout. But Tagovailoa entered the game last week against the New York Jets, going two-for-two with nine yards. So long as Tagovailoa is healthy, it seems that head coach Brian Flores is confident he gives Miami the best chance to win. He is hoping that the first win comes against the Rams, but LA head coach Sean McVay obviously would not agree.

It was only two weeks ago that the Rams saw the return of Alex Smith before most expected it. Now they’ll get to be the first defense that prepares to stop Tua.