Ryan Fitzpatrick helped the Dolphins improve to 7-4 with a win over the Jets on Sunday, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll get his starting gig back anytime soon. Speaking after the game, head coach Brian Flores confirmed rookie Tua Tagovailoa would remain the team’s starter when healthy. “Yeah, if he’s healthy, he’s the guy. I don’t know how many different ways we have to continue to say that. You keep asking, I’ll keep answering the same way,” Flores said, via Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (Twitter link).
Clearly he didn’t leave much wiggle room. It’s not like Fitzpatrick lit the world on fire against New York, but he did have two touchdowns and no turnovers. The offense has undeniably moved better with Fitzpatrick under center than Tagovailoa, but obviously Tua is the future. Flores felt comfortable benching Tagovailoa during their Week 11 loss to the Broncos, but clearly doesn’t want to make a full-on change. That being said with Tagovailoa potentially looking at a multi-week absence due to his thumb injury, Fitzmagic might not be ending too soon. If Fitzpatrick plays the Dolphins into the playoffs, it’ll be very interesting to see whether Flores can avoid changing his tune.
Here’s more from around the AFC as we wrap up Week 12:
- Colts left tackle Anthony Castonzo went down with a knee injury, and Philip Rivers started coming under immediate pressure the moment backup Le’Raven Clark entered the game. While Castonzo was quickly ruled out with the knee injury, fortunately it looks like he avoided major injury, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). Rapsheet writes that it sounds like an MCL sprain for the long-time Colt. Head coach Frank Reich said after the game a worst-case scenario had been avoided. It sounds like Castonzo won’t be out too long, but any missed time would be a brutal blow for this offense. Indy will need him as they make their playoff push.
- The Broncos were in an unprecedented situation Sunday as all of their quarterbacks were ruled out due to COVID-19 issues. That led to practice squad receiver Kendall Hinton, who played some quarterback in college, getting the start under center. But before Denver turned to Hinton they initially wanted to make offensive quality control coach Rob Calabrese their starting quarterback against the Saints, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Calabrese has been with the team the past two years and Denver felt he knew the system better than anyone else. Schefter notes the league rejected the request out of principle against coaches being activated to keep teams from stashing potential players on the coaching staff. Calabrese played some quarterback at UCF, and ended his college career in 2012. Calabrese apparently ran the offense during practice on Sunday. It’s too bad Roger Goodell didn’t allow it, as that would’ve been even more bonkers and fun than the Hinton situation.
Goodell should have allowed it because this is a unique year and it very highly unlikely teams would start making extra players stashed as coaches. He way over thought this. Sometimes the guy is plain too rule strict and needs to go with his gut feeling
I would have loved to have seen it as well, but considering the guy hadn’t been hit in 6-7 years I’m not sure how long he would have lasted
Would have been awesome to see Calabrese out there, like when an emergency goalie gets into a game in hockey.
Brian Flores, it’s a perfectly reasonable question considering that Fitzpatrick is the right person for the starting job. Your team likes him. Your team support him. And Tua isn’t cutting it.
Tua has played in 4+ games in his entire career. He’s 3-1 as a starter with a 62% completion, 600 yards, 6 TDs and no interceptions. To say he ‘isn’t cutting it’ isn’t really accurate and it’s super premature.
You know exactly what you’re getting with Fitzpatrick. Streaky play, occasionally great, occasionally horrendous. Tua is the future and the sky is the limit. Flores is doing the right thing here.
Love how you corrected Brad’s horrendous opinion with the facts!
4+ games and only 600 yards…62% completion you just proved the other guy right
Your forgot 6 TD’s and 3-1 record, Beas.
Wow Tua is hurt. Unbelievable.
Miami should have passed on Tua Tagovailoa & drafted Justin Herbert.
I just don’t like the timing of the Tua move. He hasn’t earned the starting job like some other qbs