Tua Tagovailoa stats tonight: How did the Dolphins QB fare against Cardinals in Week 8?

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa returned to the field in Week 8. Tua is now in his fifth season as an NFL quarterback, and fresh off a contract extension with the franchise, he suffered a concussion in Week 2 that kept him out of action until Sunday's Week 8 game against the Arizona Cardinals.

There were huge expectations for Tagovailoa's return, as the offense had stalled completely with other quarterbacks playing in his place. The improvement was clear: the Dolphins scored 27 points, by far their highest number this season. The problem is that the Cardinals scored 28 and won the game with a last-second field goal.

Tagovailoa finished the game with 28 completed passes out of 38 attempts, throwing for 234 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. It was a solid individual effort, but Miami fell to 2-5 in the season, three games behind the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East race.

How does Tua Tagovailoa's return compare to the other Dolphins' quarterback performances in 2024?

The 234 passing yards were the second-highest mark from any quarterback playing for Miami this season, losing to himself only in Week 1 when he amassed 319 yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

That game had a last-second field goal to give Miami its first win of the season, but there were clear problems with the offense. In Week 2, the Dolphins played the Bills; before leaving the game with a concussion, Tagovailoa threw three interceptions, and the contest was already out of reach.

He went to injured reserve, which led fans and analysts to wonder if it wasn't the time for him to consider retirement. He had already suffered two documented concussions in 2022. Every time the quarterback goes down on the field, everyone again asks if this is worth it for his long-term health.

One silver lining for the Dolphins is the fact that, apart from the Bills, both the New England Patriots and the New York Jets also have two wins only. If they somehow are able to put together some wins in the division, then reaching the wild card becomes a feasible possibility.