There's a first time for everything, even in the NFL.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will get to experience that feeling in Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts.
It will be the first time Tagovailoa plays against Indy. Up until now, the Colts are the only team Tagovailoa hasn't faced (aside from the Dolphins, of course).
It's a bit of a fluke, of course. The Dolphins and Colts played in October of last season, but Tagovailoa was hurt.
That's as good a reminder as any of what the Dolphins need most from Tagovailoa this season: good health.
The lefty is a solid NFL quarterback. In his career as a starter, he's 38-24.
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But he missed six games last year, and aside from playing every game in the 2023 season, Tagovailoa has missed at least a few games in every one of his NFL campaigns.
Concussions are the most worrisome part of the Tua experience, and the Dolphins need to protect him to have a chance of winning games and chasing a playoff spot this season.
Tagovailoa actually led the NFL in completion percentage in 2024 at 72.9% in his 11 games. He threw 19 touchdowns compared to seven interceptions.
Tua is still just 27 years old. The former No. 5 overall pick out of Alabama, a Hawaii native, still has all the talent in the world.
The Dolphins need him on the field.
He'll be out there Sunday taking on the Colts for the first time, a game Miami needs to win to set the tone for the season. A team with Tagovailoa at QB can't lose to a team with Daniel Jones at QB, or it'll foreshadow a long season ahead.
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