With a playoff berth on the line, the Miami Dolphins are likely to be without starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa against the New York Jets on Sunday. Head coach Mike McDaniel said in a press conference on Friday that it is unlikely Tagovailoa will see any action.
Tagovailoa has been sidelined with a hip injury for the second straight week, leaving the team’s playoff hopes in the hands of backup quarterback Tyler “Snoop” Huntley. In the four games Huntley has started in relief of Tagovailoa, the Dolphins are 2-2.
If the Dolphins beat the Jets, and the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Denver Broncos, the Dolphins will be the No. 7 seed in the AFC, with a matchup against the Buffalo Bills. However, if the Broncos beat the Chiefs, and as has been widely reported, the Chiefs are resting their starters, then the Broncos will advance regardless of the outcome of the Dolphins-Jets game.
Tagovailoa has said that if the Dolphins make the playoffs, he will be playing. “If the cards play out the way they should, and the way we know and think they can, I’m going to be available next week. There’s no ifs, ands or buts allowed. I’ll be playing. That’s for sure,” he said.
The Miami quarterback’s final regular-season stats conclude with a 72.9% completion rate, 2,867 yards, 19 touchdowns, and seven interceptions across 11 games.