Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa led all NFL players in Pro Bowl fan voting this year, the NFL announced Monday. Whether he makes the team won’t be known until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, when full rosters are announced.
Fan voting, which counts for one-third of the total vote, ended last Thursday. Player and coach voting accounts for the other two-thirds. Rosters will be announced Wednesday.
Tagovailoa received 306,861 votes. Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill was second in fan voting at 293,679.
Miami got the third-most total team votes. In addition to Tagovailoa and Hill, fullback Alec Ingold and offensive tackle Terron Armstead were the leading vote-getters for their AFC position groups.
The salary for Tagovailoa’s fifth-year option for 2024 increases from a projected $22 million to $28 million if he’s named to the Pro Bowl. He’s also eligible for an extension after the season.
Tagovailoa leads the NFL in passer rating at 107. 8. He’s likely competing with Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert for three AFC quarterback slots.
On Monday, coach Mike McDaniel was effusive in evaluating Tagovailoa’s play in the 32-29 loss to Buffalo.
“I saw him completely correct the things I thought were really holding him back in the two previous (games),” McDaniel said. “We’re seeing a young player exhibiting some of the things that I think make him so unique and why I feel so fortunate to coach him.... His game was really cool for me because I had complete faith in where he was going to go.”
McDaniel cited one play where Tagovailoa took a sack early against Buffalo: “He recognized he held on a little too long,... which in the two previous games would have really,really affected how he played moving forward. It reminded me of the Baltimore moment where he recognized I’m forcing something. He had the mental fortitude and go back and persevere.”
The Pro Bowl fans votes are meaningful to players.
Jevon Holland, who was second among safeties in AFC fan votes, called it “pretty cool (that) people respect me. Recognition is dope, especially from peers.”
Holland thought it was neat that Bills Pro Bowl receiver Stefon Diggs “came up to me (after the game) and said ‘great game.’ I’m like, ‘Damn that’s sweet.’ Jordan Poyer, Taron Johnson same things. That’s what I want. I want to be respected and recognized. I want to be the best. If you don’t want to be the best, you’re just floating.”
Injury update
Holland said his neck is fine and that that he wore a neck roll in the second half against Buffalo as a preventative measure because he had a stinger and arm felt like it was “on fire.”
He’s excited about Sunday’s home game against Green Bay (1 p.m, Fox): “We’re about to face Aaron Rodgers! This is Aaron Rodgers we’re talking about!”
As for other injuries, McDaniel said running back Jeff Wilson was close to playing against the Bills, but the coach “had to protect [Wilson] from himself” with his hip injury.
McDaniel said there’s no new development with cornerback Byron Jones, who hasn’t played this season after March surgery and is not ready to practice. Linebacker Jerome Baker, who left late with ankle injury, was “solid” on Monday and should be able to play against Green Bay, the coach said.
McDaniel said he’s not sure if left guard Liam Eichenberg will come off injured reserve and play on Sunday but that he will practice this week. He said Eichenberg was playing his best football when he was injured Oct. 30 at Detroit.
— Left tackle Terron Armstead, who has been playing through toe, pectoral and knee injuries, is on track to play in 15 games for only the second time in his career.
“I just want to be out there for my teammates,” he said. “I do a lot off the field to get my body in position to play. It’s been a challenge playing without feeling great. Changing technique in a week prep is tough. Unfortunately, I’ve had to do these things throughout my career.”
— Looking back at playing in Los Angeles on a Sunday night and then Buffalo on a Saturday night, McDaniel said: “It was difficult for sure, time zone switches. I was proud of the effort, the lack of excuses” against Buffalo.
— McDaniel indicated that the fact rookie Erik Ezukanma hasn’t played a single snap isn’t a reflection of any dissatisfaction.
“I’ve really seen Erik progress during the course of the season,” McDaniel said. “He was probably as physically ready for the professional game as any receiver on the roster. [But] the biggest jump [was needed] in terms of schematically and hearing a huddle call. It hasn’t been anything negative. Erik has practiced very well.”
— Braylon Sanders, elevated from the practice squad against Buffalo, played ahead of Ezukanma in part because he played the specific position that injured River Cracraft plays.
Even though Sanders had a “point of attack fumble” in his previous appearance against Detroit, McDaniel went back to him against Buffalo because “I saw a guy that the game wasn’t too big for him.” Sanders recently missed some time with an injury.
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