With the Dolphins apparently moving on from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, the next question becomes where his career will continue.
Plenty of teams will be looking for quarterbacks in the offseason. Tagovailoa has shown that he can operate an offense at a high level, when the play that’s called is there. When the play that’s called is stymied by the defense, things often go haywire.
Former Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard, who spent the early part of the season with the Colts before retiring, said after the Colts blew out the Dolphins in Week 1 that, if the first read is taken away, Tua slips into “panic mode.”
Whatever the label, he freezes. As the defender approaches, he doesn’t throw the ball away. He lacks the agility and speed to run away from the pressure and make something happen, like Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, and/or Lamar Jackson. The play just disintegrates.
And while the Dolphins have tried, in vain, to coach him toward a solution for a play that goes sideways, another coach may think that he can do what neither Brian Flores nor Mike McDaniel have been able to accomplish in six NFL seasons.
It all comes down to the options available for the teams that will be looking for a veteran quarterback. Those teams currently include, in our assessment, the Jets (he’s 7-0 against them), Steelers, Browns, Raiders, Vikings, Falcons, and Cardinals.
If the Dolphins cut Tua, he can sign with another team for the veteran minimum, like the Steelers did last year with Wilson. It’ll be a low-risk, high-reward option for a team that believes it can get more out of Tua than the Dolphins did.
And if enough teams are interested, perhaps a trade becomes possible. Even if the Dolphins would have to pay a lot of the money Tua is owed next year.
It’s not a crazy thought, even if it won’t be easy to get him to bail on a bad play before the bad play becomes a sack or a fumble or an interception. Given the good things he has shown he can do — good enough to get a $53.1 million per year contract — some team will be willing to give Tua a try.
Steelers Clips
In recent years, a trend has emerged as to vested veterans (those with four or more years of service) who seek an opportunity to exit a non-playoff team for a shot at joining a contender. To get his release, the player waives his right to secure the balance of his salary, without offset, as termination pay.
Former Jets receiver Allen Lazard did not do that, per a source with knowledge of the situation.
It gives him the ability, if he chooses, to collect the remaining $291,667 of his $1.75 million base salary from the Jets, double dipping with whatever he gets from a new team. If, of course, the balance of his contract isn’t claimed on waivers.
The obvious speculation is that Lazard hopes to land with the Steelers and two-time former teammate Aaron Rodgers. That could prompt a competitor (like, you know, the Ravens) to claim Lazard in order to prevent Pittsburgh from getting him.
Of course, that would require the Ravens to devote a spot on the 53-man roster to Lazard, which would in turn necessitate a corresponding roster move. Unless there’s someone the Ravens can place on injured reserve or are otherwise willing to waive, there wouldn’t be a spot for Lazard. Still, if they want to keep the team they’ll quite possibly face in 18 days (or 17, if the game is moved to Saturday night) for the AFC North title, they’ll at least consider finding a way to make room for Lazard.
If Lazard clears waivers, he’ll be able to sign with any other team’s roster or practice squad. And it will open the door to a double dip, with $291,667 from the Jets and whatever he gets from the Steelers or wherever he may land.
When it comes to the unusual situation that required lung surgery for Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt, coach Mike Tomlin didn’t know much last week. And he doesn’t know much this week.
Meeting with reporters on Tuesday, Tomlin addressed Watt’s status while discussing the team’s injury situation in advance of Week 16 at the Detroit Lions.
“I got no new news on T.J.,” Tomlin said. “I’m sure I will a little later in the week, but I hadn’t heard any new updates regarding his availability or what that looks like as he starts to work his way back to us this week. And so no real news there.”
He was later asked if Watt has returned to the facility.
“I don’t know if he’s been in the facility yet, because I’ve been in the dark room in the back,” Tomlin said. “He might be in the facility as we speak, and so I don’t have a lot of the answers to that, and I was just trying to be transparent when I said I didn’t have any new information as I stood here today.”
Tomlin then was asked if he knew anything more about the dry-needling technique that reportedly caused the lung injury, and whether it would or wouldn’t continue within the building.
“I have no new information regarding that,” Tomlin said, “none whatsoever.”
On one hand, Tomlin has a lot of work to do to get ready for the next game, especially on a short week. On the other hand, Watt is one of the most important players on the team, and his injury happened in a very unusual way. Some coaches would want to know everything there is to know about what happened, how it happened, and how something like that can be prevented from happening again.
It’s hard not to wonder whether Tomlin has chosen to keep as far away as he can from something that could become a problem for the organization, once the time comes to get to the bottom of the rabbit hole as to how a hole ended up being punctured into Watt’s lung. If/when it becomes a grievance or a lawsuit or any other mess that requires statements and testimony and other things that would distract Tomlin from his primary job duties, it makes sense for him — if, as it appears, he doesn’t know anything at all — to keep it that way.
The Steelers worked out nine players on Tuesday.
The tryouts included two quarterbacks, Hendon Hooker and Jack Plummer, who threw to tight end J.J. Galbreath, tight end Colin Granger, wide receiver Johnny Johnson, wide receiver Brandon Smith and wide receiver Chris Tyree and handed off to running backs Tre Stewart and Jordan Waters.
Hooker spent time on the Panthers’ practice squad this season, but they released him last month.
The Lions drafted Hooker in the third round in 2023, when he was still recovering from a torn ACL. He spent his first two seasons in Detroit, appearing in three games.
Plummer also has spent time on the Panthers’ practice squad.
Two weeks ago, the sky was falling in Pittsburgh. Now, things are looking up.
The 26-7 loss to the Bills, punctuated by calls for Mike Tomlin’s firing and the booing of Renegade, became a low point.
But then came the turnaround. A win over the Ravens, fueled by a woefully inept replay-review decision to overturn a go-ahead touchdown by tight end Isaiah Likely with 2:47 to play, gave the Steelers a one-game lead over Baltimore with four games to play. Monday night’s drubbing of the Dolphins moved the Steelers to 8-6, keeping them ahead of the 7-7 Ravens.
Here’s what it means down the stretch. The Steelers face the Lions in Detroit and the Browns in Cleveland. If Pittsburgh loses both (and even if the Ravens beat both the Patriots and the Packers), it will all come down to Week 18.
Under that scenario, the Steelers would be 8-8 and the Ravens would be 9-7 entering the season finale: Ravens at Steelers. A Pittsburgh win would result in a 9-8 tie. With a sweep of the Ravens, the Steelers would win the division on the first tiebreaker.
And that raises a related question. Would the Steelers decide to rest key starters for Week 17 at Cleveland, with the goal of having everyone at full strength for Week 18?
By the time the Steelers play the Browns on Sunday, December 28, they’ll know where the Ravens (who play the Packers the night before) stand. Pittsburgh could be in position to clinch the division with a win over the Browns. But if the Steelers know that they’ll need to win in Week 18 in order to secure the division title, there could be sound football reasons to give some of the veteran players a game off.
Especially since there’s a chance the winner-take-all AFC North championship game will be shifted not to Sunday night, but to Saturday night. Which would give the Steelers one fewer day to get ready for a playoff play-in game.
Another veteran receiver will soon be available for a reunion with Aaron Rodgers.
Or, in theory, any other team.
Allen Lazard has requested his release from the Jets, we’re told. And the Jets will be granting it.
Lazard first will be exposed to waivers. At a base salary of $1.75 million, the prorated value for the final three weeks will be $291,667. The team that successfully claims him, if any, will pick up that responsibility.
In 10 games this season, Lazard has caught 10 passes for 70 yards and a touchdown. The Jets persuaded him to redo his contract and stick around for 2025, despite the departure of Rodgers. Now that it’s over for the Jets (and has been), Lazard gets a shot at a fresh start.
Lazard originally signed a four-year, $44 million contract with the Jets in 2023, the same year Rodgers arrived. Whether Rodgers pushes for Lazard in Pittsburgh remains to be seen.
On Monday night, Rodgers connected with former Packers teammate Marquez Valdes-Scantling for 19-yard touchdown, in Valdes-Scantling’s second appearance and first catch with the Steelers.
As the Steelers make their final push for the playoffs, Rodgers may be more comfortable having receivers with whom he’s more familiar. Lazard is one of the players on that very short list.
Aaron Rodgers hasn’t played in a playoff game since he quarterbacked the Packers to a 13-10 loss to the 49ers four years ago. But he’s getting close to a return to the playoffs with the Steelers.
After the Steelers beat the Dolphins on Monday Night Football, they have a one-game lead over the Ravens in the AFC North and are the favorites to win the division. Rodgers said after the game that he’s excited by the prospect of a playoff game in Pittsbuirgh.
“If we can take care of business then we’re going to be hosting a game right here,” Rodgers told Lisa Salters on ESPN. “That’s why I wanted to come back, to be part of something special. It’s a great organization, we’re playing meaningful games. We’re up by a game in the division. A lot left to play for.”
It’s possible that the Steelers could clinch the AFC North before Week 18, but if the Steelers beat the Ravens in Week 18, they win the AFC North regardless of anything that happens in the next two weeks. They’ll be playing meaningful football into January in Pittsburgh.
Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith had big games against their former team, and the Steelers won their 23rd consecutive home game on Monday Night Football.
On a cold night at Acrisure Stadium, the Steelers froze out the Dolphins 28-15.
The Steelers (8-6) maintained their one-game lead over the Ravens, while the Dolphins (6-8) were eliminated from playoff contention.
Two former Dolphins played key roles on Monday night, with tight end Jonnu Smith running 14 yards for a touchdown on a tight end toss sweep and defensive back Jalen Ramsey totaling six tackles and a sack. The Dolphins traded Smith and Ramsey for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and draft picks. Fitzpatrick had six tackles, including one for loss.
The Steelers punted on their first three possessions before scoring touchdowns on four consecutive drives — one to end the first half and the first three of the second half — to take a 28-3 lead.
Tight end Darren Waller scored two late touchdowns for the Dolphins on catches of 6 and 13 yards to make the final score more respectable than it was.
The Steelers outgained the Dolphins 336 to 285.
Aaron Rodgers went 23-of-27 for 224 yards and two touchdowns, a 19-yard throw to Marquez Valdes-Scantling and a 28-yarder to DK Metcalf. Kenneth Gainwell had a big night, with 13 rushes for 80 yards and seven catches for 46 yards, and Metcalf caught three passes for 55 yards.
Tight end Connor Heyward had the Steelers’ other touchdown on a 1-yard run on the Steelers’ version of the tush push.
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was 22-of-28 for 254 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. De’Von Achane had 12 carries for 60 yards and six catches for 67 yards, while Waller had seven catches for 66 yards.
The Steelers haven’t lost a Monday night home game since 1991, and the Dolphins still have won only two games ever when the game-time temperature is under 20 degrees.
The Steelers are putting it on the Dolphins.
Pittsburgh scored on a fourth consecutive drive, with Jonnu Smith running it in from 14 yards out on a tight end toss sweep. With 13:01 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Steelers lead 28-3.
The Dolphins traded Smith and Jalen Ramsey to the Steelers in the offseason for Minkah Fitzpatrick and draft picks. Ramsey has five tackles and a sack tonight, and now Smith has a touchdown.
Aaron Rodgers has completed 22 of 26 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns, and Kenneth Gainwell has 11 carries for 76 yards and seven catches for 46 yards.
The Steelers list left guard Isaac Seumalo as doubtful to return with a triceps injury. He was injured with 1:47 remaining in the third quarter.
Spencer Anderson has replaced Seumalo.
The Steelers punted on their first three drives. They have scored touchdowns on their last three drives.
The Steelers lead the Dolphins 21-3.
DK Metcalf caught a 28-yard touchdown pass with 4:58 remaining in the third quarter to increase the Steelers’ lead. Dolphins safety Ashtyn Davis nearly got a hand on the ball as he dove in front of it.
The touchdown came on third-and-12.
The Steelers began the night 0-for-6 on third down but have converted their past four.
Rodgers is 19-of-22 for 180 yards and two touchdowns, with Metcalf catching three for 55 and a score.
