Tagovailoa’s Ongoing Injury Struggles
Tua Tagovailoa has been plagued by injuries throughout the 2024 season, with a significant hip injury sustained during Miami’s Week 15 loss to the Houston Texans being the latest setback. After missing the Dolphins’ Week 17 victory over the Cleveland Browns, Tagovailoa’s participation in practice has been limited, raising concerns about his ability to return to action.During Thursday’s practice, insiders Barry Jackson and Isaiah Smalls observed that Tagovailoa was seen lightly throwing passes while standing in a stationary position. Unlike previous practices, he did not engage in more dynamic movements, which has led to speculation about his readiness for Sunday’s game. “What was witnessed on the practice field offered discouraging tea leaves,” Jackson and Smalls noted in their report.
Practice Observations and Coach Comments
Throughout the practice session, Tagovailoa spent much of his time watching from the sidelines with his hands in his pockets, rather than actively participating. This behavior has fueled doubts about his condition and whether he will be able to lead the team against the Jets.Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel has indicated that they are preparing for backup quarterback Tyler “Snoop” Huntley to start if Tagovailoa is unable to play. “We have to approach this week with an open mind,” McDaniel stated. “Snoop will get more reps than Tua as we go through practice.”
Playoff Implications
The Dolphins currently sit at 8-8 and need a win against the Jets combined with a loss by the Kansas City Chiefs against the Denver Broncos to secure a playoff spot. The uncertainty surrounding Tagovailoa’s health adds an additional layer of pressure as Miami navigates this crucial game.If Tagovailoa is unable to play, Huntley will be tasked with leading the offense after a solid performance in his last start against Cleveland, where he completed 22 of 26 passes for 225 yards and one touchdown.
Looking Ahead
As the Dolphins prepare for their must-win game against the Jets on January 5, all eyes will be on Tua Tagovailoa’s health leading up to kickoff. The organization is hopeful that he can make a swift recovery, but with each passing day, the situation appears more precarious.
Conclusion
The latest update on Tua Tagovailoa’s injury status is undoubtedly discouraging for Dolphins fans as they approach a pivotal game that could determine their playoff hopes. With uncertainty surrounding their starting quarterback, Miami must prepare for all scenarios as they aim to secure a postseason berth. As the week progresses, further updates on Tagovailoa’s condition will be critical in shaping the team’s strategy moving forward.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been plagued by injuries at times throughout the 2024 regular season. He missed four games early on with a concussion, and Miami won just one of those contests with him sidelined.
More recently, he suffered a hip injury in the Dolphins’ loss to the Houston Texans on Dec. 15, and that injury sidelined him for Miami’s matchup against the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 29.
An update on Tagovailoa from Dolphins insiders Barry Jackson and Isaiah Smalls following the team’s practice on Thursday indicates that the signal-caller is in great jeopardy of sitting out his second game in a row when Miami plays the New York Jets on Jan. 5.
“Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s status for Sunday’s game against the Jets remains in doubt, and what was witnessed on the practice field Thursday offered discouraging tea leaves,” Jackson and Smalls wrote.
“During the 20 minutes open to reporters, Tagovailoa was seen lightly throwing a few passes while standing in a stationary position. Unlike Wednesday, he did not contort his body while throwing.
“He was standing watching practice the rest of the time, with hands in his pockets.”
The level at which Tagovailoa played against the Texans last month suggests that he was perhaps hampered by his hip injury in that game. He threw a whopping three interceptions compared to only one touchdown. Tagovailoa also finished with just 196 passing yards, his fewest in a single game since he totaled 145 against the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 12.
Fortunately, the Dolphins have Tyler Huntley to serve as a spot starter if Tagovailoa doesn’t play against New York, and Huntley was key to Miami’s recent win over the Browns.
In his first start in more than two months he didn’t show any signs of rust, as he totaled 225 passing yards and one passing touchdown while completing all but four of his 26 passing attempts. What’s more is that he ran for 52 yards and one touchdown on seven carries.
Behind Huntley’s production as both a passer and rusher, Miami beat Cleveland by a final score of 20-3.
Huntley has led the Dolphins to two wins this season as the squad’s starting quarterback. Miami’s first win of the campaign with him at the helm came when the Dolphins beat the New England Patriots back in October.
If Huntley can carry over his play against Cleveland into Miami’s season finale, fans of the Dolphins should feel confident about the team’s chances of ending the regular season by winning their third straight game. A win on Sunday would give the Dolphins a 21 percent chance to qualify for the playoffs, according to NFL.com.
