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.
Based on ESPN Dolphins reporter Marcel Louis-Jacques, head coach Mike McDaniel mentioned Tagovailoa is “unlikely” to play within the staff’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 apply squad on Sept. 16.
Tagovailoa suffered the hip damage in Miami’s Week 15 loss to the Houston Texans. Though he performed by means of 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 sphere, he is been excellent. His 72.3% completion fee 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 0 interceptions in Weeks 12-14. The Dolphins improved their file to 6-7 in that stretch and received 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 practically 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 possible 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 is not going to play in that sport. Even so, the strain is excessive because the Dolphins pursue a 3rd straight playoff berth.
If the Dolphins by some means make it into the postseason, count on Tagovailoa to be on the sphere. Per Louis-Jacques, he made it clear that he can be out there.
According to NFL.com’s playoff probability, the Dolphins presently have a ten% probability of creating 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 reveals what the Dolphins face.
That mentioned, the NFL may be unpredictable. The Dolphins will want the model of Huntley from the Week 17 win to deal with enterprise.
If that occurs, all eyes will probably be on Denver with Miami’s playoff hopes within the stability.