Tagovailoa feels support amid rumors of team’s interest in Deshaun Watson

MIAMI GARDENS — The rumors linking Houston Texans star quarterback Deshaun Watson to the Miami Dolphins weren’t exactly laid to rest when coach Brian Flores first had his opportunity to put out the fire started over the weekend.

Now, the Dolphins are putting forth their best effort to show they are moving forward with

Tua Tagovailoa behind center.

“I will say that Tua is our quarterback,” Miami coach Brian Flores said Wednesday. “I think he’s had a good training camp. I think he’s made a lot of progress. I think he’s made a lot of improvement. We’re pleased with where he is. He’s going about his preparation for New England [for the opener on Sept. 12] the way he should be, and

that’s where we are as a team.”

Flores was later asked if Tagovailoa will indeed be the team’s starter for Week 1 and was more firm in his response.

“Yes,” Flores said. “I don’t know if I can be more clear. I mean, I don’t know how many times you want to say it. I don’t know how much more clear I can be. Tua’s our starter. I mean, if I need to say it again, I will.”

Flores’ strong stance on Wednesday falls in line with the message relayed to the South Florida Sun Sentinel by a team source on Tuesday, pushing back on a Pro Football Talk report again linking the Dolphins and Watson.

The source said owner Steve Ross believes in Tagovailoa and is not pushing for a move away from the second-year signal caller looking to make strides in Year 2.

Tagovailoa spoke to reporters after Wednesday’s practice and was appreciative of the notion coming from Flores.

“I think it means a lot with it coming from the head coach,” Tagovailoa said. “The support that I have from him and from the team, it means a lot. But for me, I’m just focused literally on trying to get our guys ready for next week.”

Flores’ Wednesday reaction comes after an ESPN Tuesday report stated he addressed the team, labeling Tagovailoa “our quarterback,” amid the swirling trade rumors involving Watson sparked by a Yahoo report on Saturday.

“I don’t get into conversations I have with the team, the players,” said Flores, asked directly about such a meeting. “Those conversations are private. I think it’s just kind of common courtesy to keep those conversations between myself and the player or the team.”

Tagovailoa said he and Flores keep an open line of communication.

“I have many sit-downs with coach Flores,” he said. “We pretty much talk every day, whether it’s a private conversation in his office or a private conversation to the side before practice starts. Whatever it may be, we’re always talking.”

But he also revealed he doesn’t keep up with such news around the league, staying off of cable TV. Tagovailoa only learned of the saga linking Miami’s brass to Watson through Dolphins communications staff and talks with Flores. He also said he rarely speaks with Ross — only after games.

Dolphins teammates added to the support for Tagovailoa following Wednesday’s practice.

“Like Tua supports each of his teammates, we support Tua,” linebacker Elandon Roberts said.

Added offensive guard Solomon Kindley: “I love every single quarterback here, and I’m sticking with every quarterback coach Flo puts out here. I’m going to do my job no matter who he puts out there. He said Tua, so I love Tua. I’m going to block for Tua.”

The Dolphins were involved in trade talks for Watson during the offseason, but that was before 22 civil cases and 10 criminal complaints — but not charges — involving sexual assault began hanging over him. Rumors swirled again on Saturday when the Yahoo report labeled Miami the “front-runner” in trade talks for Watson.

Flores wouldn’t flat-out say the Dolphins are not interested in Watson in his Sunday reaction following the preseason win at the Cincinnati Bengals. On Monday, Flores spoke to wanting players with “high character” as Watson and the Dolphins remained a hot topic in NFL circles.

Watson led the NFL in passing in 2020, throwing for 4,823 yards. He tossed 33 touchdowns to just seven interceptions while completing 70.2 percent of his passes and rushing for 444 yards and three more scores.

Tagovailoa, who was selected with the No. 5 pick in the 2020 draft, was 6-3 as a rookie last season since the team moved in his direction over veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick. Tagovailoa completed 64.1 percent of passes for 1,814 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions in those nine starts, although he was relieved by Fitzpatrick in two of those.