As the miami dolphins prepare to close out the regular season with a pivotal game against the New York Jets on Sunday, they’ll do it without quarterback Tua Tagovailoa written into the game plan.
Tagovailoa entered the concussion protocol for the second time this season following the Dolphins’ Week 16 matchup against the Green Bay Packers.
Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers hugs Tua Tagovailoa of the Dolphins on the field after the game at Hard Rock Stadium on December 25, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida.
(Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed this before last week’s game against the New England Patriots, and added that Tagovailoa was day by day in his recovery and that the attention was focused on his health and not on putting him back on the field.
NFL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION DETERMINES NO VIOLATION OF CONCUSSION PROTOCOLS IN LATEST INJURY TO TUA TAGOVAILOA
During a media press conference Monday, McDaniel said the game plan would be made with the anticipation that Tagovailoa would miss another week.
«There are a lot of variables going on. I think right now I’m preparing for both Skylar (Thompson) and Teddy (Bridgewater). I think it’s too early to know anything about Teddy,» McDaniel said of Bridgewater. who suffered a finger injury on his right hand in the Dolphins’ fifth straight loss.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Teddy Bridgewater shakes hands with running back Jeff Wilson Jr. during a New England Patriots game on January 1, 2023, at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
(Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
«And with Tua, like I said, I haven’t even thought about game state. It’s about him being healthy every day, so I can’t even factor that into any kind of equation until we’re ready to address that.»
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He continued: «It’s really a situation at this point in the week, Monday and Tuesday in the build up to the game, I’ll prepare for both Skylar and Teddy and then continue as the week progresses.»
The Dolphins could still make the playoffs with a win on Sunday and depending on the buffalo bills results against the Patriots in Week 18, but McDaniel said there is no timeline on Tagovailoa’s return, regardless of Miami’s playoff status.
Tua Tagovailoa of the Dolphins jumps onto the field before the Green Bay Packers game at Hard Rock Stadium on December 25, 2022 in Miami Gardens.
(Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
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«I know one thing for sure, specifically as ordered, I haven’t had a discussion with Tua about when he’s going to play, because again, once the picture was painted very clearly, anything but what we’re doing that day, getting him to recover worse for him as a human being.»
He added: «…from his head coach to the player, no schedule has been discussed with intent. Again, I have no idea when, if, why, how regarding Tua. It’s an a-day process.» day, really, that’s the biggest thing we’re adhering to, and that’s just making him better every day and keeping him healthy as a person. Unfortunately, I don’t have a timeline.»
