Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is poised to miss his second consecutive game for the Miami Dolphins this Sunday against the New York Jets, according to Coach Mike McDaniel’s recent statement.
Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley will once again take the reins following his successful outing against Cleveland. Tagovailoa remains sidelined due to a right hip injury sustained on December 15th in Houston and subsequently aggravated in a game against San Francisco.
McDaniel emphasized the cautious approach, noting, “It looks like the way I approached the week was probably smart,” as he allowed Huntley to take the majority of practice reps this week. “I see it as unlikely that Tua will see any action,” he further added.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins continue to pursue the last AFC wild-card spot. To secure the playoff seat, Miami not only needs a triumph over the Jets but also requires Denver to lose to Kansas City, who will start quarterback Carson Wentz while resting most of its starters.
Huntley, who completed 22 of 26 passes for 225 yards, one touchdown, and one rushing score against Cleveland, is preparing to lead the team once more. McDaniel comments on Tagovailoa’s condition indicate there has been some improvement from last week when the injury had not healed as swiftly as anticipated. During that period, McDaniel mentioned that Tagovailoa was not medically cleared, labeling it “not safe” for him to participate.
The nature of Tagovailoa’s injury, described as a complex muscle issue rather than a mere bruise, complicates his recovery. McDaniel clarified, “A bruise would be like pain tolerance,” expressing that Tagovailoa’s challenge is maintaining the necessary strength for performance and safety. McDaniel ruled out surgery as a solution, contrasting it with Tagovailoa’s previous hip surgery experienced in college at Alabama.
In a challenging season, Tagovailoa is projected to conclude with 11 starts, marking his fewest since beginning nine games in his rookie year. Nevertheless, he achieved 2,867 yards, completing a career-best 72.9% of his passes, along with 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
As Tua Tagovailoa continues his recovery, Tyler Huntley is anticipated to lead the Dolphins in a crucial game against the Jets, impacting Miami’s playoff aspirations.
Source: News4jax
