CLEVELAND — Surgery is just not at present within the plans for Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who missed Sunday’s 20-3 win over the Cleveland Browns with a hip harm.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel mentioned Tagovailoa suffered the harm in opposition to the Houston Texans in Week 15 and was in a position to play by way of it in opposition to San Francisco final week. However, he aggravated the harm on a play vs. the 49ers and it didn’t progress the way in which the crew had hoped this previous week.
Tagovailoa was restricted in each of Miami’s practices main as much as Sunday’s sport, and he was downgraded to uncertain Saturday.
“You attempt to forecast how issues will heal primarily based upon the one factor that it’s important to work with, which is the earlier week’s forecast,” McDaniel mentioned. “So, we have been hoping and anticipating for a timeline just like that, and because the week progressed, we did not see the development we might hoped. … Ultimately, he completely needed to play. It wasn’t a ache tolerance factor; that was not within the equation for him.
“… The most important factor was that he not solely was tremendous prone to a way more vital harm primarily based upon that harm, if he have been to fall in hurt’s means, however a significant component was the dearth of energy as a result of harm and his lack of ability as we forecast to guard himself and his teammates throughout the pocket doing the issues that he usually has to do.”
After taking part in all 18 video games in 2023, Tagovailoa has now missed a career-high 5 regular-season video games this 12 months. McDaniel mentioned that whereas surgical procedure is not at present deemed crucial, he has “no thought” whether or not Tagovailoa will play within the regular-season finale subsequent weekend in opposition to the New York Jets.
The Dolphins coach did affirm that Tagovailoa’s hip harm was not associated to the compound fracture he suffered throughout his ultimate season at Alabama in 2019.
Tagovailoa instructed reporters Thursday that his injured hip felt “good,” and he described the problem as typical put on and tear at this level of the season. Defensive lineman Calais Campbell mentioned the quarterback instructed him Thursday that the crew must “pull me out the sport” and that he deliberate to play in opposition to the Browns.
Campbell, nevertheless, mentioned he may inform, primarily based on Tagovailoa reps at Friday’s follow, that the quarterback was unlikely to play.
Backup Tyler Huntley began in opposition to the Browns and accomplished 22 of 26 passes for 225 yards and a landing whereas speeding for a further 53 yards and a TD.
In his fourth begin of the season, Huntley mentioned he is extra snug on this offense now that he has spent three months in it.
“I truly know what the motions are, and I’ve obtained a great really feel of the performs proper now,” Huntley mentioned. “So, yeah, a pair weeks within the offense, it positively makes a distinction.”
The Dolphins returned to a .500 file for the primary time since Week 2. They can earn a 3rd straight playoff berth subsequent week with a win over the Jets and a Denver Broncos loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, who clinched the AFC’s prime seed and are prone to relaxation their starters.
Campbell, a Colorado native, joked that he’d be a “big Chiefs fan” for the primary time in his life. He mentioned the Dolphins may win video games with the way in which Huntley performed Sunday.
“It’s by no means over till it is over,” Campbell mentioned. “There’s at all times alternative and who is aware of — I imply it may not occur. That’s a part of it. But we have got to go on the market within the ballpark and if it does occur, look out.
“We coming.”
