With playoff aspirations hanging within the stability, Miami Dolphins’ head coach Mike McDaniel says Tua Tagovailoa is “unlikely” to play within the season finale in opposition to the Jets.
As an alternative, it’s going to doubtless be second-string sign caller Tyler Huntley underneath middle for the second consecutive week.
Miami should win Sunday to have any likelihood at qualifying for the playoffs.
“I believe Tua needs it was only a ache difficulty,” McDaniel mentioned Friday per ESPN when requested in regards to the hip damage his star quarterback sustained in a Week 15 loss to the Houston Texans.
“It’s fairly actually having the ability to have the energy to do what we ask him to do, in addition to defending himself from very critical damage if we don’t deal with it appropriately. I wouldn’t say it’s a bruise, however it’s sort of a singular muscle difficulty on account of the hip.”
Tagovailoa was capable of play by means of the damage in Week 16 because the Dolphins beat the San Francisco 49ers to maintain their playoff hopes alive, however was confined to the sideline in Week 17.
And with Huntley drawing his fourth begin of the season in opposition to the Cleveland Browns, Miami appeared no worse for the damage. The fifth 12 months passer accomplished 22-of-26 makes an attempt, threw for one rating and added a second along with his legs.
The Dolphins’ protection held up its finish of the cut price too within the 20-3 victory.
It’s been a powerful back-half of the season for the Dolphins, who’ve received six of eight.
Even nonetheless, getting into the ultimate week of the season, Miami will want a little bit of assist to safe their third consecutive playoff bid.
Along with defeating the Jets on Sunday, the Denver Broncos should lose to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs for the Dolphins to qualify.
If each contests shake Miami’s method — and the Chiefs don’t have anything to play for — McDaniel and firm would earn the ultimate AFC Wild Card spot because the seventh seed and e-book their journey to Orchard Park for a date with Josh Allen’s second-seeded Buffalo Payments.
The Dolphins head coach wouldn’t speculate on Tagovaiola’s availability in that hypothetical matchup and provided reporters solely restricted info on the quarterback’s restoration.
Tagovailoa has made progress prior to now week, however the muscle damage is just not one that might be mounted with a surgical procedure. The aim, McDaniel mentioned, is “to cease aggravating this by pushing by means of and [give Tagovailoa time to] attempt to regain energy.”
As for Sunday’s contest in opposition to the Jets, scheduled to kick off at 4:25 p.m. ET, McDaniels says, “we are going to method it as if Snoop is beginning.”
