Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa Plays With Swollen Eye Amid Mystery Illness

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa played through a mysterious illness that caused his left eye to swell significantly, leading him to wear a helmet visor for the first time in his NFL career. Despite the eye swelling, which further impaired his already challenged vision downfield, Tagovailoa started the game against the Atlanta Falcons, though the Dolphins' offense struggled early. The illness and eye issue compounded existing concerns about Tagovailoa's performance, as he leads the NFL with 10 interceptions and has faced criticism from fans and his own locker room. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel hinted at possibly benching Tagovailoa if his struggles continue, especially with backups Quinn Ewers and Zach Wilson available. Tagovailoa's injury report listed the illness but gave no injury designation, and the team hoped the condition was curable despite his impaired vision. Overall, the Dolphins are enduring a disappointing season at 1-6, with Tagovailoa's health and effectiveness under increasing scrutiny.