Appearing in only 13 games this past season, Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa had a career year. Leading the team to the playoffs with an 8-5 record as a starter (9-8 overall) with 3,548 yards passing, 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions, while completing 64.8% of his passes for a 68.8 total QBR.

Ultimately, the four games misses were due to sustained concussions, leading to multiple games missed before clearing league protocol. Culminating in missing the playoff game against the Buffalo Bills. Another close game.

Most players would have regrets about missing such a crucial game. Especially quarterbacks, who can alter the effect of any game. But not in this case. Not for the Dolphins.

Instead, Tua is not only grateful the Miami Dolphins held him out of the final games of the year, but that it has opened his scope of the game and his career moving forward.

"For concussion protocol, I think the team did me the biggest service throughout that. They never allowed me to go through protocol normally until the season was done. So that's why it might have seemed like it took forever, but they were just protecting me from myself. And me and my family are very thankful to the Dolphins…

But I think I've had all the information that I need to move forward with the decision that I made with me and my wife and my family. And understanding that you're playing this sport, and understanding and knowing the precautions that these things can happen. It's football, it's a physical sport…"

A bit of a surprise as most players will 'play through the pain'. Giving their team the best chance to win.

Knowing that a wild card playoff game in freezing cold upstate New York is not nearly as important as the window.

The window that Tua and the Dolphins are now open inside of. Following his Pro Bowl-level output and carrying over to 2023 and beyond is much more important.

Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny of USA TODAY Sports