Tua Tagovailoa is placing the blame on his height for why he didn’t connect with wide receiver Jaylen Waddle much during Sunday’s ugly 31-6 Dolphins loss to the Browns.
The Dolphins quarterback suggested that he was having trouble seeing Waddle — who had just one catch for 15 yards — over the offensive and defensive lines, calling himself “not the tallest guy” when he spoke with reporters.
“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 said. “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.”
#Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa said part of the reason he didn’t target Jaylen Waddle much vs. the #Browns was because he had trouble seeing him over the O-line and D-line:
“I’m not the tallest guy back there. Sometimes when that happens you don’t want to just throw it blindly.” pic.twitter.com/gxlJOADdjp
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 22, 2025
iami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) throws a pass during the first half against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The excuse certainly felt like a new one for a modern NFL quarterback.
Tagovailoa is listed as 6-foot-1 and is making $212 million to lead Miami.
The QB targeted the 5-foot-10 Waddle a grand total of four times in the ugly loss that dropped Miami to 1-6.
Jaylen Waddle of the Miami Dolphins runs off the field during the fourth quarter of the game against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on October 19, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. Getty Images
Sunday marked the fewest receptions and targets in a game for Waddle since Week 14 of the 2024 season against the Texans, when he didn’t have a single catch and was targeted just twice. However, that happened as he was suffering from a right knee injury.
Tagovailoa completed just 12 passes for 100 yards and three interceptions during the loss in Cleveland.
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His 10 interceptions this season lead the NFL, and he is on pace to surpass his career-high of 14 that he threw in 2023.
Head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters that the pair had an hour-and-a-half meeting on Tuesday and that they had “a great hour meeting” on Monday, “as Tua and I have always operated.”
“I think there’s zero uncertainty with Tua on my conviction in him and my belief in him,” McDaniel said. “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.”