Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa might be on the sideline for the regular-season finale, but he guarantees he’ll be playing in next week’s wild-card round if the team gets there.
“I’ll be available next week – no ifs, ands, or buts,” he told reporters Friday, including ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques.
Tagovailoa was sidelined for Miami’s win against the Cleveland Browns with a hip injury that he sustained against the Houston Texans two games prior. He also missed time earlier this season after suffering his third concussion in two years on Sept. 12 against the Buffalo Bills. He returned to play Oct. 27.
The Dolphins are 8-8 and can qualify for the AFC’s last wild-card spot with a win against the New York Jets on Sunday. They also need the Kansas City Chiefs to beat the Denver Broncos to secure a playoff berth.
Coach Mike McDaniel said Friday that the passer’s current injury is not a bone or bruising problem but a “unique muscle issue,” per Louis-Jacques. He added that the team is waiting for more information from doctors to know when it will be “safe” for Tagovailoa to resume playing.
“It’s not a surgical solution, it’s a ‘stop aggravating this by trying to push through it,’” McDaniel said.
Tagovailoa is officially listed as doubtful for the matchup versus the Jets, according to David Furones of the Sun Sentinel. If he doesn’t play Sunday, it will be the sixth regular-season game he misses this campaign – the most of his NFL career.
Tyler “Snoop” Huntley will be starting for the fifth time this campaign.
“It’s tough for any competitor to have to sit out when your season’s on the line and you know you can do more,” he said, per the Sun Sentinel’s Chris Perkins.
“The concussions have been a thing, and then off of that other injuries that have stacked up with the concussions where I’m missing games. It’s frustrating,” Tagovailoa added.
Tagovailoa boasts 2,867 passing yards and 19 touchdowns in 11 games this season, with a career-high completion percentage of 72.9.
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