Dolphins HC: ‘No Idea’ If Tua Will Play vs. Jets Amid Hip Injury; Surgery Not Needed

Doric SamDecember 30, 2024

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The Miami Dolphins will have the chance to earn a playoff spot in Week 18, but it’s unclear if they will have their starting quarterback under center.

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters after Sunday’s win over the Cleveland Browns that he has “no idea” if quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will return from his hip injury in next week’s game against the New York Jets. McDaniel added that while surgery is not needed at this time, playing could leave Tagovailoa susceptible to a major injury.

McDaniel also noted that Tagovailoa’s injury is “not at all” related to the hip injury he suffered in 2019 while he was still at Alabama. He said Tagovailoa was willing to play through the injury, but he would’ve risked the possibility of aggravating it further.

Tagovailoa was forced to sit out against the Browns as the Dolphins earned a 20-3 win with backup quarterback Tyler Huntley leading the way. Huntley threw for 225 yards and a touchdown on 22-of-26 passing and added a team-high 52 rushing yards and another score on seven carries.

NFL @NFLTua was hyped for Snoop after his rushing TD 😄

📺: #MIAvsCLE on CBS/Paramount+
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Tagovailoa, who also missed time earlier this year with a concussion, has played in 11 games and thrown for 2,867 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions while completing a career-best 72.9 percent of his passes. His return would surely give Miami its best chance to be successful, but the team should also feel comfortable with Huntley if he needs to start again in Week 18.

After improving to 8-8, the Dolphins need some help to get into the postseason. In addition to needing to win their game against the Jets, they need the Denver Broncos to lose to the Kansas City Chiefs. Miami would own the tiebreaker over Denver based on conference winning percentage.