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There’s a lot of questions that need answering for the 1-6 Miami Dolphins, but one of them was why Jaylen Waddle, the Dolphins’ top receiver without Tyreek Hill on the field for the remainder of the season, didn’t see much action in Sunday’s blowout loss to the Cleveland Browns.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has an answer, and it’s likely Dolphins fans don’t want to hear it.
“I think with that, some of it has to do with being able to see guys, with their guys also up front and our guys,” Tagovailoa told reporters on Tuesday. “I’m not the tallest guy in the back there either. So being able to see and then sometimes when that happens, you don’t want to just throw it blindly, and you gotta progress. So, I think that has some merit to reasons as to why that happened for Waddle.”
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Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) signals to his team at the line of scrimmage against the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter at Huntington Bank Field on Oct. 19, 2025. (Scott Galvin/Imagn Images)
It’s no secret Tagovailoa, listed at 6-foot-1, isn’t the tallest quarterback in the NFL. But it’s another thing to admit he isn’t able to see his receivers during plays.
It may be true, but obviously having sight of your offensive weapons is key for any quarterback. Nonetheless, Tagovailoa targeted Waddle, who stands at 5-foot-10, just four times in the 31-6 beatdown on the road. He caught just one pass for 15 yards.
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Waddle hasn’t had this few targets or catches in a single game since Week 14 against the Houston Texans last season. In that game, Waddle didn’t have one catch and was only targeted twice, though he suffered a knee injury.
But Tagovailoa was struggling all day for the Dolphins, as the Browns’ defense forced three interceptions and just 12 completed passes for 100 yards in the loss.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) looks on after game against the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on Sept. 14, 2025. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel has previously had Tagovailoa working with his teammates like a well-oiled machine, but this season has proved hard to get that same timing on each week.
McDaniel noted on Tuesday that he and Tagovailoa had an hour-and-a-half meeting the day prior, which he called “great.”
“I think there’s zero uncertainty with Tua on my conviction in him and my belief in him,” McDaniel told reporters. “We’re both very eager to do better at our jobs, and we’re both very committed and trusting of each other to respond to what is necessary for the team to do better.”
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) looks to pass against the Buffalo Bills in the first half at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, on Sept. 18, 2025. (Mark Konezny/Imagn Images)
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The 27-year-old quarterbacks leads the NFL in interceptions this season with 10 on the year compared to 11 touchdown passes. He has thrown for 1,313 yards with a 67.8% completion rate as well.
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