Tua Tagovailoa originally aggravated his hip injury during Miami’s Week 15 game against the Texans. He was able to play through it against the 49ers the following week, but felt continued soreness in the area during the week leading up to Sunday’s game against the Browns. He was held out against Cleveland, as the Dolphins turned to Tyler Huntley in order to keep their season alive.
Status Of Tua Tagovailoa For Week 18 Is Unknown
Miami won, keeping their playoff hopes intact heading into the final week of the 2024 season. But the status of their starting quarterback is in serious question, and Tagovailoa is anything but a sure thing to start against the Jets this coming Sunday. NFL insider Adam Schefter was asked about the situation during his appearance on the Pat McAfee show on Monday, and he said that the status of the quarterback was “in question” and that he is not at all a lock to play in the big game.
The Dolphins have everything to play for in Week 18. After starting their season with a 2-6 record, they’ve gone 6-2 in their last 8 contests, and need just a little bit of help to advance to the postseason for the third straight year.
In addition to a victory over the Jets, Miami would just need the Chiefs to defeat the Broncos in order to qualify. But that second part will be tougher than it sounds, as Kansas City will be sitting essentially all of their starters as they have the #1 seed in the AFC wrapped up.
🚨 Adam Schefter on Tua Tagovailoa’s hip injury and his status vs. New York Jets: “I don’t think it’s a lock he plays this week. I think his status is in question… that hip was more banged up last week than people realized.” (@PatMcAfeeShow) #GoFins pic.twitter.com/2by04FkfTL
— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) December 30, 2024
Huntley’s surprise performance against the Browns on Sunday gives Miami fans hope that he’ll have a chance to pull out a victory against New York. But they’d certainly love to have their starting QB back, as Tua Tagovailoa shifts the entire dynamic of the offense with his familiarity with receivers and league-leading accuracy. The situation with his hip will be something to monitor throughout the week, and could adversely affect the chances for the Dolphins if he is unable to go.
As of Monday afternoon, Miami is listed as just a 1-point road favorite over the Jets. The Chiefs, alternatively, have an underdog designation of +9.5, keeping the Dolphins’ playoff hopes slim, at least according to the sports books.
