The Miami Dolphins have to beat the Cleveland Browns on December 29 to stay alive in the AFC playoff race. They may need to win without starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on December 28 the Dolphins have downgraded Tagovailoa to doubtful for the Week 17 showdown. Tagovailoa is dealing with a hip injury.
“Tagovailoa still is pushing to play Sunday, but if he can’t, Tyler Huntley would be in line to replace him,” Schefter wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero confirmed Schefter’s report and added on X that Tagovailoa’s hip aliment is “a significant injury in terms of impact of his mobility and strength.”
Minutes after Schefter’s report, the Dolphins announced they elevated quarterback Skylar Thompson from the practice squad to the active roster for Week 17. The Dolphins also elevated cornerback Nik Needham on December 28.
In another roster move the day prior to the game, the Dolphins placed cornerback Kendall Fuller on injured reserve and signed wide receiver Erik Ezukanma to the active roster.
The Dolphins need either the Los Angeles Chargers or Denver Broncos to lose on December 28. Then, they must beat the Browns to still be alive in the playoff hunt during the final week of the regular season.
Tua Tagovailoa Trending Toward Not Playing in Week 17
As NFL fans know, the doubtful tag for Tagovailoa means there’s less than a 50% chance he plays on December 29. That’s not ideal, as the Dolphins’ season will be on the line.
Miami, though, could be eliminated before kickoff. If the Chargers and Broncos both win on December 28, then there will be no reason for Tagovailoa to push through his injury because the Dolphins will officially be eliminated.
But they would obvious prefer him on the field if either the Chargers or Broncos lose.
Tagovailoa leads the NFL with a 72.9% completion percentage this season. He also has 19 touchdowns and 7 interceptions with a 7.2 yards per pass average.
If Tagovailoa can’t play, then Tyler Huntley will start again for the Dolphins. He is 1-2 as a starter this season. The Dolphins have gone 1-3 in games without Tagovailoa during the 2024 campaign.
Huntley has completed 59.1% of his passes with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. He’s also averaging 5.7 yards per pass this season.
The temperature in Cleveland is expected to be in the mid-50s, which is good news for the Dolphins, who have lost 11 straight games in temperatures below 40 degrees. But there’s a chance of rain and heavy wind in Cleveland during the game.
Dolphins Place CB Kendall Fuller on IR
Tagovailoa could still play in Week 17. However, Fuller is out for the rest of the season.
The Dolphins placed him on injured reserve because of a knee injury. Ezukanma replaced him on the team’s active roster.
Fuller started 11 games for Miami during the 2024 season. He posted 50 combined tackles, including 1 tackle for loss with 7 pass defenses. Without him, undrafted rookie Storm Duck and Ethan Bonner should see more defensive snaps at cornerback.
If there’s any good news, signing Ezukanma from the practice squad gives the Dolphins more receiver depth. But there’s a chance Miami returns to full health at wideout in Week 17.
Jaylen Waddle, who didn’t play during Week 16, is officially questionable for the Browns matchup. Fellow receivers Tyreek Hill and Dee Eskridge are also considered questionable.
