Tua Tagovailoa faces locker room heat after Dolphins’ latest meltdown against Ravens

Aman Sharma

•
Tua Tagovailoa faces locker room heat after Dolphins’ latest meltdown against Ravens image

Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks, fresh off earning the AFC Defensive Player of the Week award for his 10 tackles and one sack against Atlanta, didn’t hold back after Thursday’s 28-6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Despite his standout season on a struggling 2-7 Dolphins team, Brooks expressed clear frustration with his teammates’ mistakes. While Lamar Jackson passed for 204 yards and Derrick Henry ran for 119, much of that production came late.

Brooks insisted the defense performed well and that the loss stemmed from offensive miscues.

“I thought (Jackson) had a decent game but a lot of it came at the end when the game was out of reach, in garbage time to be honest,” Brooks said. “I thought we played well defensively, but turnovers, that kills you.”

Brooks’ comments came after the Dolphins committed two fumbles and Tua Tagovailoa threw an interception in a game where he failed to score a touchdown.

“Until we learn how not to beat ourselves, we’re not going to win the football game,” Brooks said.

The Dolphins now turn their attention to the Buffalo Bills, hoping to stop a slide that has mirrored their worst start since 2021.

More: Mike McDaniel’s QB2 decision could test Dolphins’ faith in Zach Wilson’s $6M signing

Locker room tension grows as Tagovailoa’s leadership faces scrutiny

Behind the team’s on-field collapse lies a deeper issue within the locker room. What started as Tagovailoa’s tunnel speech, which became viral for all the wrong reasons, now points to a growing strain among players.

 

The quarterback has completed 67.9% of his passes for 1,779 yards, throwing 15 touchdowns against 11 interceptions this season. But as frustration mounts, so do questions about leadership and accountability.

Tagovailoa’s earlier remarks about teammates missing meetings and the team’s inconsistent effort have raised eyebrows. While some view his attempts as a push to motivate, others see them as signs of disconnection.

Despite the outside noise, the quarterback is still trying to rally his teammates to regain focus and unity. The Dolphins’ current situation feels precarious. With morale dipping and execution issues piling up, even minor mistakes have begun to carry significant consequences.

As they prepare for the 5-2 Bills, Miami’s season appears to be teetering between recovery and collapse. Inside the locker room, every action — and every word — from Tagovailoa will be under the microscope.

More NFL news:

News Correspondent