#Why Tua Tagovailoa was benched in first NFL speed bump

The Dolphins’ five-game win streak was quelled on Sunday as Tua Tagovailoa floundered against the Broncos and was benched for Ryan Fitzpatrick.

The 2020 first-rounder, who had been dealing with a foot injury in the week leading up to the game, struggled during Miami’s 20-13 loss in Denver, sparking worries Tagovailoa was injured and may not even start next week.

“Tua wasn’t injured,” head coach Brian Flores told reporters after the game. “We just felt it was the best move at that point in the game. We felt [Fitzpatrick] gave us the best chance to win the game. We had to get in two-minute mode and we just felt like he gave us the best chance to win the game, which we had an opportunity at the end — to tie it, I should say.”

Tagovailoa, 22, finished completing 11 of 20 passes for just 83 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions. He was also sacked six times for a total loss of 33 yards.

“They pressured us,” Flores said. “We struggled getting it going. When that’s going on, you have to try to do something to create some momentum. That’s why we made the switch. But he’s healthy. He’s a confident kid. He’s fine.”

Fitzpatrick, 37, entered the game during the fourth quarter with the Dolphins trailing 20-10. He completed 12 of 18 passes for 117 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception and brought the Dolphins back within striking distance, but was ultimately unable to overcome the 10-point deficit.

“Whatever is best for the team,” Tagovailoa said after the game. “When we were in, we couldn’t really get things going. Coach felt it was the best decision to put Fitz in and give us a spark. It’s what’s best for the team. If we were to win with Fitz in there, the locker room would be a lot different and everyone would be a lot happier. It just sucks to lose.

“I couldn’t get the ball in the hands of our playmakers or get in a rhythm.”

The contest ended when Fitzpatrick was picked off in the end zone in the closing minutes. Flores insisted there would be “no changes” at the position going forward. 

“It’s very clear this is Tua’s team,” Fitzpatrick said. “Tua is going to continue to get better and grow. For me, my defined role right now is whatever coach [Flores] or whatever the team needs out of me. Today was different than the last few weeks in that he needed me to get out there and try to move the ball and provide a spark. But the few weeks before that it really was just full support mode on Tua. And even in a game like Tua when I’m out there, I’m still talking with Tua on the sideline and we’re going through stuff and trying to get him to see what I’m seeing and why I’m doing the things I’m doing.

“There is no controversy. It’s his team and he’s going to continue to lead the team. We just have to all pull in the right direction.”

The Dolphins accrued 223 yards of total offense in contrast to the Broncos’ 459 yards of offense. Miami also did not record a sack on Denver.

The Dolphins slide to 6-4 in second place in the AFC East behind the Bills (7-3). They are set to face the winless Jets (0-10) on Sunday at MetLife Stadium at 1 p.m.