Tua Tagovailoa played with a clear shield on his helmet for the first time in his NFL career because of an illness that caused his eye to swell. The Miami Dolphins are not calling it pink eye.
This unfortunate development creates an even bigger optical challenge.
Tagovailoa already admitted that he struggles to see his wide receivers when he looks to throw downfield. A swollen eye will certainly not help to improve the NFL quarterback’s vision.
Tua Tagovailoa cannot see.
The Miami Dolphins had high expectations for 2025. The season has not gone according to plan.
They lost six of their first seven games as one of just four teams with only one win.
Tagovailoa did not play well during that stretch. He threw 10 interceptions to 11 touchdowns with four games of 200 yards passing or less. That is not what you want from your franchise quarterback and former No. 5 overall pick. His inability to lead the offense into the end zone is a real issue.
To make matters worse, Tagovailoa recently admitted that he did not target his best pass-catcher as often as he should have because he literally could not see him over the offense and defensive line. In doing so, he quipped that he doesn’t want to “just throw it blindly,” which is rather ironic.
#Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa says he didn’t target Jaylen Waddle much vs the Browns because he had trouble seeing him:
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulliNFL) October 22, 2025
“Some of it has to do with being able to see guys [behind the O-line & D-line]— and I’m not the tallest guy… you don’t want to just throw it blindly.” pic.twitter.com/4ZfuL2y4IT
Mike McDaniel chose to stick with Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback despite the early-season struggles.
A swollen eye doesn’t help.
Tagovailoa was added to the injury report on early Sunday morning with an illness. As it would turn out, the undisclosed illness caused his eye to swell.
The swelling forced him to warm up in sunglasses. He also wore a visor for the first time in his career.
Tua is dealing with eye swelling and will be wearing a visor for the first time in his career pic.twitter.com/ebnZxWgYEM
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) October 26, 2025
It’s pretty gnarly.
tua’s eye is fucked pic.twitter.com/vNGcqfkG0t
— josh howtz (@houtz) October 26, 2025
One of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL this season admitted he could not see his receivers only to play through a swollen eye just a few days later. Win, lose or tie, this is a storyline you can’t write any better.