Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa blamed team leadership after dropping the fifth of six games this season – a 29-27 loss to the visiting Los Angeles Chargers.
‘I think it starts with the leadership and helping articulate that for the guys and what we’re expecting out of the guys,’ Tagovailoa told reporters. ‘We’re expecting this, are we getting that? Are we not getting that?’
The team captain then decided to get more specific.
‘We have guys showing up to players-only meetings late, guys not showing up to player-only meetings,’ he said. ‘There’s a lot that goes into that. Do we have to make this mandatory? Do we not have to make this mandatory?
‘It’s a lot of things of that nature that we got to get cleaned up. It starts with the little things like that.’
Asked to clarify if teammates are missing player-only meetings entirely or just arriving late, Tagovailoa said it was the latter: ‘Late.’
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa wasn’t making any excuses after the team dropped its fifth of six games this season – a 29-27 loss to the visiting LA Chargers
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) talks on the sidelines during Sunday’s loss
The Dolphins fell on a last-minute field goal by LA’s Cameron Dicker – his fifth of the game as the Chargers improved to 4-2.
Tagovailoa got help from running back De’Von Achane, who rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries.
As for himself, Tagovailoa had a rough day under center. He completed 21 of 31 passes for 205 yards and three interceptions, the last of which sealed Miami’s fifth loss of the season.
Tagovailoa is without the injured Tyreek Hill for the remainder of the season, so he’s relying more on Jaylen Waddle (six catches, 95 yards on Sunday) and tight end Darren Waller (two catches, one touchdown).
Tagovailoa’s three-interception day didn’t leave him with much sympathy on social media, where Dolphins fans were calling for the quarterback and head coach Mike McDaniel to be replaced.
