The Miami Dolphins could also be with out their beginning QB Tua Tagovailoa (hip) for his or her must-win sport in opposition to the New York Jets on Sunday.
In response to ESPN Dolphins reporter Marcel Louis-Jacques, head coach Mike McDaniel mentioned Tagovailoa is “unlikely” to play within the workforce’s regular-season finale.
If Tagovailoa can’t play, Tyler Huntley needs to be in line to make his fifth begin for the reason that Dolphins signed him off the Baltimore Ravens observe squad on Sept. 16.
Tagovailoa suffered the hip damage in Miami’s Week 15 loss to the Houston Texans. Though he performed via the damage within the Week 16 win over the San Francisco 49ers, Tagovailoa was inactive for the Week 17 tilt with the Cleveland Browns.
Tagovailoa has missed 5 regular-season video games, however when he is been on the sector, he is been excellent. His 72.3% completion charge leads the league, and he is thrown for 19 touchdowns and simply seven interceptions.
With the Dolphins at 4-6 and determined for a turnaround, Tagovailoa averaged 338 passing yards with eight TDs and nil interceptions in Weeks 12-14. The Dolphins improved their document to 6-7 in that stretch and obtained themselves again into playoff competition.
If Huntley is at QB, not all hope is misplaced for the Dolphins. Final week in opposition to Cleveland, Huntley accomplished almost 85% of his passes (84.6%) for 225 yards and a TD. He added 52 yards and a TD on the bottom. Earlier than that, when Huntley made three begins whereas Tagovailoa was out with a concussion, he solely accomplished 59% of his throws for 377 yards with one TD and one interception. If that’s the type of manufacturing the Dolphins get on Sunday, it’ll seemingly not even matter what the Denver Broncos do.
Miami heads into Week 18 needing a win over the Jets and a Broncos loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. With the AFC’s No. 1 seed locked up, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has clarified that a number of Kansas Metropolis starters won’t play in that sport. Even so, the strain is excessive because the Dolphins pursue a 3rd straight playoff berth.
If the Dolphins someway make it into the postseason, anticipate Tagovailoa to be on the sector. Per Louis-Jacques, he made it clear that he could be accessible.
According to NFL.com’s playoff probability, the Dolphins presently have a ten% likelihood of constructing the playoffs and solely a 21% shot in the event that they defeat the Jets. The Broncos (22%) nonetheless have higher odds even when they lose to the Chiefs, which exhibits what the Dolphins face.
That mentioned, the NFL might be unpredictable. The Dolphins will want the model of Huntley from the Week 17 win to maintain enterprise.
If that occurs, all eyes will likely be on Denver with Miami’s playoff hopes within the steadiness.
