Tua Tagovailoa isn’t expected to play Sunday against the New York Jets with the team’s playoff hopes on the line.
The same hip injury that kept the quarterback out last week against the Cleveland Browns will force the Dolphins to again turn to Tyler Huntley. But if Miami wins and gets help from the Kansas City Chiefs, Tagovailoa says there’s no chance he’ll sit out Wild Card Weekend.
“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,” Tagovailoa told reporters Friday. “There’s no ifs, ands or buts allowed. I’ll be playing. That’s for sure.”
Fortunately for the Dolphins, Huntley played well in Tagovailoa’s absence last week. The backup completed 84.6 percent of his passes for 225 yards and a touchdown, and added another 52 yards and a touchdown as a rusher.
“It’s tough for any competitor to have to sit out when the season is on the line and you know you can do more, but that just tells you how much trust and respect that we have for ‘Snoop’ (Huntley),” Tagovailoa said. “The defense has been balling as well, so looking forward to what our guys can do this Sunday and we’ll see how the cards fall and how they play out.”
The exact nature of Tagovailoa’s injury has been kept under wraps by the quarterback and the Dolphins. Head coach Mike McDaniel described it as a “unique muscle issue” that just needs time to regain security and strength.
“When it comes to pain, I think I’m good with all of that, but it’s just the restriction of what the doctors are saying I can do,” Tagovailoa said. “For sure, I thought I could’ve played last week. Just the doctors said no. That’s all it was.”
With Tagovailoa in the lineup this season, the Dolphins are 6-5. The fifth-year quarterback has 19 touchdown passes, seven interceptions, and an NFL-best 72.9 completion percentage.
