DECEMBER 29: Tagovailoa is indeed among Miami’s inactives for Sunday’s game. Huntley will get the nod as the Dolphins look to keep their playoff hopes alive.
DECEMBER 28: The Dolphins have downgraded quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to doubtful for their Week 17 matchup with the Browns, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. If he is unable to play, Tyler Huntley would make his fourth start of the season.
Tagovailoa suffered a hip injury in Week 15, but finished the game and played 100% of Miami’s offensive snaps in Week 16. The fifth-year quarterback wants to continue to play through the injury, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, but his mobility and athleticism are limited. Tagovailoa had surgery on the same hip when he was in college, per the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, but his current injury is affecting a different area.
The 2020 first-round pick downplayed the injury during a press conference on Thursday (via ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques):”I mean it’s good. It’s just like anyone else on the team and anyone else around the league. You get banged up little bit towards the ending of the year so just got to take care of that.”
Since Thursday, though, Tagovailoa has been trending down. Along with ruling him doubtful, the Dolphins elevated Skylar Thompson from the practice squad for Sunday’s game, another indication that Tagovailoa is unlikely to play.
An absence this weekend would be Tagovailoa’s fifth this season after a four-week IR stint after his Week 2 concussion. Miami has to beat Cleveland to keep their playoff hopes alive; a loss would all but eliminate them from postseason contention.
The Dolphins also promoted wide receiver Erik Ezukanma to the active roster, placed cornerback Kendall Fuller on injured reserve, and elevated cornerback Nik Needham from the practice squad, per a team announcement.
Tua hurt, what a shocker
I feel he will play, wants to try to get at least nine wins for the team after everyone urged him to retire.
A hip is a hip
How will Hill get his 2,000 yard with him out?
Now that Denver lost in OT at Cincinnati, Miami’s 4:05 special in Cleveland is extra-important. Tua may start or be a backup. Worst case he’s the QB3.
Unfortunately for the Dolphins, even if they win their final two games, they will be watching in frustration as the Chiefs rest all their starters against Denver in the season finale.
Wow. Tua will be QB1, 2 or 3. That’s some mighty prognosticating there.
I’ll go further and say Miami will win, lose or tie the game.
Dolphins are eliminated if they don’t win. Mighty brave for them to start Huntley in a must-win game.
Its in my blood to hate the Dolphins.
But I really wanna root for Tua and I feel bad for his luck. He seems like a likable and genuine guy.
That said – it was a terrible contract and part of ne is happy about that.
They should probably rest him next week as well, no sense risking a further aggravation of the injury. Maybe Huntley can beat the Jets who are tanking for a QB. If Broncos can’t beat Chiefs who are resting starters they should quit. Even if Dolphins make it in, they get the snow bowl in Buffalo. One and done.
And guess what Fox will have for “America’s Game Of The Week” on the final Sunday? Dolphins-Jets.