Nasty Hit Leaves Dolphins QB “Folded Like a Lawn Chair” on Hard Rock Turf [VIDEO]
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
Friday night at Hard Rock Stadium belonged to Tua Tagovailoa’s homecoming first. Then the camera found Mark Gronowski getting crushed into the turf.
Atlanta beat Miami 17-12 in the preseason finale. Gronowski entered after Cam Miller had his share of snaps. He put up 4-of-8 passing for 97 yards plus 28 rushing yards. The tape that spread on X was not the completion. It was the moment Falcons defenders bent him in half.
Never seen a person get folded up like a lawn chair until today pic.twitter.com/ybqoROvJUI
— Hater Report (@HaterReport) August 29, 2026
How Mark Gronowski’s Drive Fell Apart
Gronowski took over in the second half with Miami still hunting its second preseason touchdown. He hit Teaun Marshall for 33 yards after the receiver adjusted to the ball. A pass-interference flag and a fourth-and-1 conversion by Carlos Washington Jr. set up first-and-goal.
Washington stalled on consecutive runs. Gronowski then found Theo Wease Jr. open in the end zone. Wease bobbled the throw and never secured it. Riley Patterson kicked his third field goal to make it 17-9.
A later series ended worse. Gronowski picked up two first downs with his legs and connected with Wease for 15 yards. Then a bad shotgun exchange popped loose. Josh Woods recovered the fumble for Atlanta. Another drive produced a 37-yard catch-and-run from AJ Henning before the Falcons flushed Gronowski for a loss on third down.
Why Mark Gronowski Still Faces a Roster Crunch
The Dolphins signed Gronowski as an undrafted free agent after Iowa, waived him on August 7, and brought him back nine days later when Quinn Ewers strained his groin. He started four years at South Dakota State, won two FCS titles, and rushed for 16 touchdowns as a Hawkeye. None of that showed up in the viral pile.
Cam Miller started Friday and went 7-of-16 for 71 yards under constant pressure. Local reporters said Miller looked more likely to lock the No. 3 job. Ewers sat again. Malik Willis watched from the sideline for a second straight week. Miami must cut to 53 by Sunday evening, and the quarterback room is crowded.
Tua’s night framed the whole broadcast. He heard boos, went 7-of-8 for 95 yards, and led a touchdown drive before a fumbled snap. Atlanta’s Tua starting-job mess still hangs over the Falcons after a rough practice clip and an early-season Michael Penix Jr. meme moment.
Gronowski’s night mixed juice and damage. He moved the pocket and created chunk plays. He also lost the football and watched a touchdown bounce off Wease’s hands. The lawn-chair hit is what people will remember when Miami starts cutting names.
