Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel had quarterback Tua Tagovailoa under center in a game for the first time since Dec. 25 on Saturday, and on the opening play, the former Alabama All-American threw an interception.

McDaniel thought it was “perfect.”

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“I told him before the game, I did not expect him to play that long but if adversity comes our way to seize it,” McDaniel said, “and he took it extremely literal. To me, it’s like, ‘All right, perfect. What are you going to do?’

“I think it was so valuable because it was the first play, and he came back as I would expect. But the rep — he had already put himself there before. What happens when that happens? It was on a play that he’s had a lot of success with, and he threw a pick.”

Houston linebacker Denzel Perryman returned the interception to the Miami 7-yard line, but the Dolphins defense stopped the Texans on downs.

On the second snap of the game for the Dolphins offense, Will Anderson Jr., a rookie defensive end from Alabama, took down Miami running back Raheem Mostert for a 5-yard loss at the 2-yard line. But after that, the Dolphins moved 98 yards in 13 plays for a touchdown on their way to a 28-3 victory in the NFL preseason game.

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Tagovailoa completed a third-and-8 pass from the Miami 9-yard line to tight end Durham Smythe to keep the Dolphins on the field, and the quarterback finished his preseason appearance by completing his final four passes for 51 yards. Two of the completions came on third down.

“We got behind the sticks,” McDaniel said, “and I think we had like a 14- or 15-play drive that was critical with three or four third downs on it. That is exactly what preseason is for. That’s why you want somebody to play. I’m glad he got it out of the way.

“But more importantly, the team didn’t blink. The team had a pretty short field to defend, and what a momentum swing that is when your defense can come up and not bat an eye, hold a team to not have points and then progress from there. I was happy with the way the team responded to that.”

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Tagovailoa was in uniform for the Dolphins for the first time since Dec. 25, when he sustained his second concussion of the 2022 season and missed Miami’s final two regular-season games and a playoff contest.

Tagovailoa will go into the 2023 NFL season bigger and stronger than he was in 2022 thanks to his offseason work, which also included jiu jitsu lessons to learn to fall more safely.

The Texans did not sack Tagovailoa on Saturday, but he was hit – and his first contact came when he tackled Perryman on the interception return.

McDaniel said he and the quarterback were prepared for Tagovailoa to get hit.

“I wasn’t imagining his first play that he was going to tackle somebody on it,” McDaniel said, “but he’s as prepared as one can be. …

“If I was surprised, I would have my eyes blindfolded and earplugs in my ears. That happens as a part of football, and you have to prepare for that, which he does.”

Tagovailoa is preparing for his fourth NFL season since joining the Dolphins as the fifth selection in the 2020 draft.

“I think he’s finding himself as a man, and he’s doing it alongside his teammates,” McDaniel said. “I think that when you’ve been doing something for that long, you’re just enjoying the process day-in, day-out. He’s so comfortable in his skin and his zest for life is so strong now as a father and a husband and a quarterback. …

“He’s worrying about the right stuff. Like you throw a pick first play, that’s not ideal, but you focus on ‘OK, well, most people might let that linger and have an effect on how you approach everything else. As a competitor, I’m going to try to not have that be the case.’ I think all of that fits within him and his development and where he’s at, and I’m excited to see him every day.

“He’s got a really cool new tattoo, so that’s cool, too.”

The Dolphins will conclude their preseason schedule when they visit the Jacksonville Jaguars at 6 p.m. CDT Saturday.

Miami will kick off its regular-season slate on Sept. 10 on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.