MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – There were matters more important than football to discuss for Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at his press conference on Wednesday.
Tagovailoa spoke to reporters just moments after his teammate, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, had parts of his multi-million dollar home erupt in flames.
“It’s difficult to know what Tyreek is going through right now,” said Tagovailoa. “I think the main thing is his family is safe, his loved ones are good and he’s good as well.”
“Some of those things can be replaced but I’m just glad to know that everyone is safe,” he added.
A representative for the Miami Dolphins confirmed to Local 10 News that Hill’s family members were able to get out safely. They said he left practice to be with his family once he received word about the fire.
Footage from Sky 10 showed Hill speaking with relatives along with his agent Drew Rosenhaus outside his home around 3 p.m. At one point, he placed his hands together as if in prayer as he looked toward the sky.
Tagovailoa said he and his teammates have reached out to Hill during this difficult time for any assistance he and his family may need.
Tua talks Ravens woes, staying focused on Bills in AFC East division title game
Despite losing in a 56-19 blowout to the Baltimore Ravens last Sunday, Tagovailoa told reporters Wednesday that he looks forward to the challenge of playing through adversity.
“I think the most important thing in games like that is we continue to fight regardless of what the scoreboard says, and in regards to that, you don’t want to make something that’s bad, even worse,” he said.
Tagovailoa, who sustained a shoulder injury in the Baltimore game, told reporters that he and his shoulder are “good to go.”
Tagovailoa also said that he is ready to face a “sound” Bills defense and understands how important the game is.
“We want to win the division, and like I’ve said, if we wanna go where we wanna go, it starts this Sunday against Buffalo.”
A win against the Bills (10-6) would give the Dolphins (11-5) their first AFC East crown since 2008.
A loss would place them as the 6th seed in the AFC, where they would have to play on the road against the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs.