Tua Tagovailoa is preparing to start for the Miami Dolphins against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night.

Tagovailoa has spent the past two weeks in concussion protocol. He began football activities last week and cleared concussion protocol Saturday but was inactive for the Dolphins' loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 6. 

"He's a captain. He's a captain for a reason, and as I've told you guys from the onset, I think he's a very, very good player at that position," McDaniel said.

"So very good players, they definitely give people a boost -- not because of what other people aren't but more just because he is who he is. So he's a strong fabric of this team, and that's exciting when you get to go play with one of your brothers, which is why the team will be excited, and it will be exciting."

Tagovailoa hasn't played since Miami's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 29, when he sustained a concussion that resulted in a brief hospitalization after hitting his head on the ground.