Saquon Barkley faces off against Tua Tagovailoa in a charity 'Madden' game that will raise money for small businesses affected by the pandemic. Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

Tua Tagovailoa to face Saquon Barkley in charity 'Madden' game

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa already has become the most talked-about player in the NFL since being drafted last month. Unfortunately, we won't be seeing him toss the pigskin any time soon thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, but he'll be showing us what he can do virtually in a game of 'Madden NFL 20' on Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live.

Verizon's website states:

"Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live, the weekly live-streamed entertainment series in support of small businesses affected by COVID-19, will pair New York Giants Saquon Barkley and Miami Dolphins Tua Tagovailoa in a battle on EA Sports Madden NFL 20 on Tuesday, May 26. The event will stream live at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT on Twitter @Verizon, Twitch, Yahoo, Verizon’s Facebook page, and Fios Channel 501. The event will be available on Verizon’s platforms for one week following the live stream."

As they play the video game, Tagovailoa and Barkley will support their favorite local businesses by engaging with fans, creating small in-game experiences and encouraging viewers to support local businesses by shopping online, buying a gift card or ordering a meal.

We may not know when Tagovailoa will officially take the field with his new team, but he's already making a lasting impact on his community. The 22-year-old bought his mother a brand-new car for Mother's Day and announced his plan to start charitable outreach efforts in Hawaii, Alabama and Florida.

Similarly, Barkley has supported 22q, a rare genetic disease, by selling cleats with the proceeds going to research and gave back to healthcare workers by participating in SAP's "Take Your Child to Work Day" virtual experience.

Unfortunately Tagovailoa and Barkley won't meet on a real football field in 2020, unless of course both the Dolphins and Giants make it to the Super Bowl, but that seems highly unlikely with their young rosters. 

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