Tua Tagovailoa given bleak injury update for Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins have not won a playoff game since the 2000 season and that long wait could well be extended this year. The Dolphins need a win in Week 18 to keep their hopes alive but will probably be without first choice quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for the game.

Speaking on Friday head coach Mike McDaniel admitted that Tagovailoa is “unlikely” to play against the New York Jets owing to a hip injury sustained against the Houston Texans in Week 15. McDaniel revealed that the issue is not a bone or bruising issue.

“I think Tua wishes it was just a pain issue,” McDaniel told reporters. “It’s quite literally being able to have the strength to do what we ask him to do, as well as protecting himself from very serious injury if we don’t treat it appropriately. I wouldn’t say it’s a bruise, but it’s kind of a unique muscle issue as a result of the hip.

“It’s been more of consistent check-ins to see how far it’s gone, and whether or not it’s quite literally safe to play football in a responsible fashion.”

Tagovailoa signed a massive four-year, $212.1 million contract extension with the Dolphins back in July but has suffered a number of fitness issues this season, missing five games ahead of Sunday’s must-win Week 18 clash.

Who is Tyler Huntley, the Dolphins' backup quarterback?

If Tagovailoa is, as McDaniel suggested, unable to play the QB role will be filled by backup Tyler Huntley. The 26-year-old is in his first season with the Dolphins, having previously signed for the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns.

The Ravens took him as an undrafted free agent in April 2020, but played in just two games in his rookie season in the league. He largely remained a backup during his four years in Baltimore but did make four starts in both the 2021 and 2022 seasons. In the latter, he was named starter for the Raven’s Wild Card game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

He was briefly signed with the Browns in 2024 but was released from the squad in August. Following an injury to Tagovailoa the Dolphins signed Huntley to serve as backup to Skylar Thompson. However a rib injury to Thompson early in the season saw Huntley elevated to Tagovailoa’s regular backup in Miami.

Speaking after an impressive showing against the Browns last week, Huntley said that he is now starting to feel comfortable as the starting QB: “It definitely helps with my confidence, and I know it plays even more for our team just knowing without the first guy, me being able to step in and just be able to do what I was able to do, I know it gave this team enough confidence to be able to go out there this weekend and go handle the game."

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