Tua’s first start also means first hits since hip injury

MIAMI — Tua Tagovailoa is about to get hit.

He doesn’t know exactly when it will happen, but he knows that sometime today, he’ll likely be tackled for the first time since last Nov. 16, when he suffered a career-threatening hip injury on his final play for Alabama.

Now Tagovailoa is back to test that surgically repaired hip when he makes his first NFL start for the Miami Dolphins against the Los Angeles Rams.

“It has been a long time coming,” Tagovailoa said. “I don’t know what the hit is going to feel like. Every hit is different that you take in football, and I don’t think you can ever prepare for hits. It’s just something you have to go out knowing it’s going to happen.”

That’s especially true against a stout defense like the Rams’. Aaron Donald and company are eager to give Tagovailoa an appropriate welcome to the NFL, and the Rams (5-2) also hope to build on their city’s winning vibe in the wake of October championships claimed by the Lakers and Dodgers.

The Dolphins (3-3) will bid for their third consecutive victory with a chance to climb above .500 for the first time under second-year coach Brian Flores.

The cringe- inducing sequence has been replayed countless times in the past 50 weeks: Two Mississippi State defenders knocked off Tagovailoa’s helmet, bloodied his nose and — worst of all — dislocated his right hip.

Hewas carted off the field and taken by helicopter to the hospital, where his long comeback began.

Tagovailoa was medically cleared before training camp, but less than a month ago, Flores said he remained mindful of the injury and wouldn’t rush Tagovailoa’s return. Last week the coach decided to promote his rookie as a replacement for veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, and said he has no concerns regarding how Tagovailoa will react to being hit. “From a health standpoint, we feel good about where he is,” Flores said. “He’s going to get hit in the game; we knowthat.”

Against the Rams, that’s likely. Donald ranks second in the league with eight sacks, and presents a significant challenge for an offensive line with two rookies.

While Miami’s offense has racked up plenty of points, the Rams’ defense under rookie coordinator Brandon Staley is getting increasingly tough, particularly after halftime.

Los Angeles is up to sixth in theNFL in yards per game allowed (313), and only Baltimore has yielded fewer points per game than the Rams (17.7). Donald and his teammateshave been particularly strong after halftime, givinguponly 33 total points.

The defense hasn’ t allowed a touchdown in the second half since Week 3.

CHARLES TRAINOR JR./MIAMI HERALD/TNS After playing as a sub lastweek, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will get his first big test of his surgically repaired hip today.