Tua Tagovailoa wins even in a Miami Dolphins loss

Tua Tagovailoa made his return for the Miami Dolphins on Sunday after missing four games following another scary concussion in a Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Tua's future was uncertain following the latest head injury, with plenty of calls for the star QB to walk away from the game.

After consulting with numerous doctors, Tua was cleared to play, and he always intended to return if that happened. He loves the game, perhaps to the detriment of his own health, but that's true of all football players who put their bodies on the line every single week for our entertainment.

Tua's case is just more well documented because of the high profile nature of his position as a QB, and how famous he was in college before he ever took a snap as a pro. That's what happens when you throw a walk-off touchdown in the national championship as a true freshman.

The Dolphins offense was horrendous with Tua sidelined. In four games, Miami mustered only 40 total points and went 1-3 only because they happened to catch another hapless franchise in the New England Patriots during that stretch.

Tua's return was always going to be a big boost. Unfortunately, it didn't all go according to plan because even with him back, the Dolphins still lost at home to the Cardinals, 28-27. 27 points would have been enough to win all but one game during the four game stretch Tua was sidelined.

The Dolphins may have lost, but Tua Tagovailoa won. He won because he walked off the field after the game under his own power, without sustaining another injury. He won because he took care of himself and didn't open himself up to an unnecessary hit. Listen to the fan reaction when he took off running in the third quarter and then slid before contact:

Tua played well in his return to the field, completing 28-of-38 passes for 234 yards and a touchdown. The Miami loss puts the team further from playoff contention, dropping the Dolphins to 2-5.

But the team's record is irrelevant. It was nice seeing Tua back out there enjoying the game he loves, though with baited breath every time the ball was snapped in fear of seeing him take any hits. If Tua was scared he didn't play like it, and I hope enough time will pass without any other scare that eventually that feeling of fear will be replaced with the joy that watching him play quarterback has always brought me.

Tua is an unbelivable football player and deserves to go out on his own terms like any other player, without having it ripped away from him because of injuries. I still worry that long term this isn't what's best for him, but I'm no doctor and it's impossible to tell a competitor that, especially one still in his 20's with that feeling of invicibility still very prevalent.