With their playoff hopes on the line, Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said it is “unlikely” that Tua Tagovailoa will play in the final game of the season against the Jets.
Instead, second-string signal caller Tyler Huntley will likely be used under center for the second consecutive week.
Miami must win on Sunday to qualify for the playoffs.
“Tua wishes it was just a pain issue,” McDaniel said Friday. Per ESPN when asked about the hip injury his star QB sustained in a Week 15 loss to the Houston Texans.
“It's literally about being able to have the strength to do what we asked him to do, and being able to protect himself from very serious injury if we didn't treat him properly. I wouldn't say it's a bruise, but it's more like a specific muscle problem that comes from the hip joint.”
Tagovailoa was able to play through the injury as the Dolphins kept their playoff hopes alive by defeating the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16, but remained on the sideline in Week 17.
And with Huntley making his fourth start of the season against the Cleveland Browns, Miami's attrition didn't seem too bad. The fifth-year passer completed 22 of 26 attempts, scoring one point with his throw and adding a second with his feet.
The Dolphins' defense held strong until the end, resulting in a 20-3 victory.
The Dolphins had a good second half of the season, winning six of eight games.
Still, entering the final week of the season, Miami will need a little help to clinch a third straight playoff berth.
In order for the Dolphins to qualify, the Denver Broncos must beat the Jets on Sunday and also lose to the Kansas City Chiefs.
If both contests swing Miami's course and the Chiefs have nothing to play for, McDaniel and Co. will earn the final AFC Wild Card spot as the No. 7 seed, with Josh Allen's second-seeded Buffalo I would probably book a trip to Orchard Park for a date with the Bills.
The Dolphins head coach did not speculate on Tagoviola's availability in that hypothetical matchup, providing reporters with only limited information regarding the quarterback's recovery.
Tagovailoa has made progress over the past week, but muscle damage cannot be repaired with surgery. McDaniel said the goal is to “stop pushing things and making things worse.” [give Tagovailoa time to] Try to regain your strength. ”
As for Sunday's game against the Jets, with kickoff scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET, McDaniels said, “We're going to approach it as if Snoop is starting.”
