The Miami Dolphins added quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to their injury report just hours before kickoff against the Atlanta Falcons today. The team listed Tagovailoa with an illness but did not give him a game designation.

And now, according to CBS Sports, Tagovailoa woke up with an illness that caused his left eye to swell, but he was playing despite the condition with a visor on his helmet for added comfort and protection. The swelling was visible during pregame warmups.

After a rocky start to the season and back-to-back games with three interceptions, Tagovailoa needed a bounce-back performance with Miami sitting at 1-6. On Miami’s opening drive, his first pass was an incomplete deep shot to running back De’Von Achane, and he was sacked on third down, leading to an early punt. Despite the sluggish start, Miami’s offense soon found its rhythm.

The Dolphins jumped out to a 17-3 lead at halftime, with Tagovailoa efficiently dissecting the Atlanta defense in the first half, tossing two touchdown passes with no interceptions.

His second touchdown pass was to wide receiver Malik Washington late in the second quarter, a 9-yard touchdown pass that extended the Dolphins’ lead to 17-3 at halftime.

Through seven games, Tua Tagovailoa had completed 139 of 205 passes for 1,313 yards, 11 touchdowns, and an NFL-worst 10 interceptions, putting him under mounting scrutiny. And today Tagovailoa delivered one of his best first halves of the season. He threw a season-high four touchdown passes as the Dolphins ended their losing streak, dominating the Atlanta Falcons 34-10.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel’s decision to stick with Tagovailoa paid off quite well after pulling him in the fourth quarter of an embarrassing 31-6 loss at Cleveland, where Tagovailoa finished just 12-of-23 for 100 yards before being benched for Quinn Ewers.

Mike McDaniel’s unwavering trust in Tua Tagovailoa pays off

Tagovailoa’s performance and on-field struggles had drawn heavy criticism throughout the early part of the season. Especially when the quarterback had been involved in a sideline situation where he called out teammates for being late to player-led meetings, raising questions about team chemistry and leadership within the Dolphins locker room.

But despite all that, McDaniel had insisted that his belief in Tagovailoa remained unchanged. On Monday last week, McDaniel confirmed that Tagovailoa will remain the starter.

“You’re trying to instruct for the future,” McDaniel explained on Wednesday, “but I think it’s also important that you remind him of how he’s responded in the past to give him conviction in the future.” The coach emphasized his trust that Tagovailoa will bounce back, adding, “I have confidence based on my history with him that he’ll respond in the appropriate manner.”

Meanwhile, Tagovailoa took accountability for his struggles in the aftermath of the Cleveland loss. “It starts with me. Can’t turn the ball over,” he said after losing last Sunday’s game. His words proved right, as the Dolphins are now 2-6.

The next big question is clear: when they face the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9, can Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins carry this grit and momentum forward?