Dolphins players give glowing praise of Tua Tagovailoa before first start

Rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has yet to start an NFL game but he's also getting glowing reviews from his teammates, as he has apparently been wowing everyone with his play in practice so far.

"Obviously throwing, making plays, everything you want in a quarterback," receiver Preston Williams said. "Y’all seen his tape, that speaks for itself. We’re excited that Tagovailoa is getting a start just like everybody else I’m excited to see him in his first game action versus the Rams."

And Tagovailoa is not just getting praise from the offense, even defensive players have admired his abilities.

"They don’t draft a quarterback in the first round for no reason," defensive end Shaq Lawson said. "The guys are the future of the program. … I’m just telling [Tagovailoa], work hard and continue to work better. We’re going to follow your lead."

Tagovailoa played his first NFL action during the Dolphins' win against the New York Jets, completing both his passes. The team then announced that he would be the starter instead of veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. The rookie has had a long and winding road toward his first start. He suffered a dislocated hip and posterior wall fracture last November, ending his final season with Alabama. 

While Tagovailoa may not end up matching Fitzpatrick's numbers or wins, it's important for the team to give him some playing time so it can get a good sense of what it has in the potential franchise quarterback. Plus, with Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow both off to solid starts to their careers, the Dolphins likely wanted to see how their own rookie could do.