From healing finger to his puns — and even dance moves, Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa feeling loose entering Jets game

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The mood around a football locker room changes a little bit when a seven-game losing streak turns into two wins in five days.

For Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, it’s no different, even as he continues to work through swelling of his fractured middle finger on his throwing hand.

The final question Tagovailoa took at his Wednesday press conference following practice was about the touchdown dance he did after sealing Miami’s 22-10 upset victory over the Baltimore Ravens last Thursday night with a QB sneak for a touchdown. And he replicated the dance at the podium for all to see.

It’s known as the “Smeeze” dance, which originated in the Bay Area, where former Alabama teammate Najee Harris, now with the Pittsburgh Steelers, is from. Tagovailoa picked it up from Harris and Tagovailoa’s younger brother, Taulia.

“I thought that thing was cool when I saw it, so I learned how to do it. Then started doing it,” Tua Tagovailoa said as he broke into his moves. “It was good fun out there, especially when you score and you’re with the guys.”

It’s easier to feel at ease having that kind of fun as the Dolphins have strung together a pair of wins and get set for the first of two division-rivalry installments against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

“I think we’re getting into a good flow of things, no pun intended,” said Tagovailoa, citing coach Brian Flores’ nickname, Flo.

The unintentional puns extended into something related to dance.

“Guys are starting to find their rhythm,” Tagovailoa said, “and we just have to continue to find ways to play complementary football. That’s really all it is.”

For Tagovailoa to stick with the beat, that process begins with assuring his injured finger is ready for Sunday against the Jets after he finished off the win over the Ravens when Jacoby Brissett went down with a knee injury early in the second half.

“It feels good,” Tagovailoa said. “Obviously, there’s still healing that’s taking place, but other than that, it’s fine.”

While he was listed on Wednesday’s injury report as a limited participant and the limitations in downfield passing the finger caused were the reason Flores didn’t start Tagovailoa, he feels comfortable with it heading into Sunday.

“I don’t think there’s going to be any limitations for this Sunday with the finger,” said Tagovailoa, who added his ribs are “good, but not great” after they caused him to miss three weeks earlier in the season.

With that, Tagovailoa is increasing the practice workload on his throwing hand after he barely threw the two previous weeks ahead of wins over the Ravens and Houston Texans, missing the Houston game altogether while being available in an emergency role if needed.

“Didn’t throw all that much last week, which was good from a healing standpoint,” Flores said. “He played in the game, and then we’ve had some time off since. More time equals more healing, so he’s doing a little bit better. Still some discomfort, but we expect him to practice this week.”

The little practice he had ahead of being inserted against the Ravens made his second-half performance more impressive.

Tagovailoa went 8 of 13 for 158 yards and the rushing touchdown. His longest play went 64 yards to Albert Wilson on a busted coverage by Baltimore, and he also uncorked an impressive 35-yard pass deep to the sideline to Jaylen Waddle that just about showed how far he could throw the football with his injury.

“We called it to be executed,” said Miami’s offensive play-caller George Godsey. “We went through the week kind of knowing where his limitations were, and fortunately for him, it was a well-executed play.”

Added quarterbacks coach Charlie Frye: “I think when you get in a game, the adrenaline and those things take over. You’re thinking more about the type of throw, the type of read that you have to make rather than the finger.”

Tagovailoa will get his first true taste of the Dolphins-Jets rivalry on Sunday. While his first NFL action last season came at the end of a 24-0 win against New York before he initially became the Dolphins’ starter as a rookie, he missed the later matchup on Nov. 29, 2020. Sunday will be the first time the Dolphins and Jets are meeting in 2021, with the second set for Week 15 on either Dec. 18 or 19.

Flores said on Wednesday that he expects Brissett to be ready to be available behind Tagovailoa on Sunday against the Jets after he left the Thursday night win with a knee injury. Brissett was listed as a full participant on the Wednesday injury report.

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