Tua Tagovailoa's swollen eye sparks concern after Dolphins QB woke up with mystery illness on day of Falcons game

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is sporting a gruesome swollen eye after waking up with a mystery illness on the day of their game against the Atlanta Falcons.

Hours before their clash with the Falcons, the Dolphins added Tagovailoa to their injury report with an illness but did not give him an injury designation, meaning he was still able to start at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Yet as he took the field, fans spotted that the 27-year-old has been left with a significantly swollen left eye.

It is unclear what type of illness Tagovailoa is battling, but it didn't prevent him from finding De'Von Achane in the end zone for a first-quarter touchdown.

Nevertheless, fans were left concerned after spotting his swollen eye in Sunday's game.

'Why is he even playing? Wtf,' one user wrote on X.

Another put: 'Somebody get this man off the damn field. It ain’t worth it Tua'.

While one referenced recent comments he made about his vision and said: 'He was already talking about he had trouble seeing his receivers now he’s got one eye lmao'.

After their recent defeat to the Cleveland Browns, Tagovailoa said: '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. 

'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.'

The Dolphins have endured a miserable start to the season, going 1-6 in their first seven games to leave head coach Mike McDaniel under serious pressure.

Tagovailoa has thrown 10 interceptions this season, tied with Las Vegas quarterback Geno Smith for the most in the NFL, and he is on pace to surpass the career-high 14 picks he threw in 2023. 

The struggling quarterback has completed 139 of 205 passes for 1,313 yards this season, but has appeared to regress from his 2023 form, when he threw for a career and league-best 4,624 yards. 

McDaniel has expressed overwhelming confidence in Tagovailoa since becoming Miami's coach in 2022, but he recently emphasized the need for his play to improve. Despite his struggles amid a 1-6 start, the Dolphins coach indicated Wednesday that there's no strain in their relationship.

'We had a great hour-and-a-half meeting yesterday,' McDaniel said. 'We had a great hour meeting the day before, 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. 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.'