Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa gave no indication when he talked with reporters in the NFL team’s locker room on Friday that he would play in Sunday’s regular-season finale against the New York Jets. Earlier in the day, Miami coach Mike McDaniel said it was “unlikely” the former Alabama All-American would play against the Jets as the Dolphins prepared to have Snoop Huntley at quarterback for the second straight Sunday.
But the Miami injury report does not list Tagovailoa’s status for the game as out, but as doubtful because of a “hip” injury.
What kind of hip injury? The Dolphins aren’t saying.
McDaniel termed it a “unique muscle issue” on Friday. While talking to reporters on Friday, Tagovailoa stood with a forced smile when inquiries sought more specific information about the injury and a timeline for his return.
“See, it just gets so hard because we’re just giving broad -- we’re giving you guys broad things about what the injury is,” Tagovailoa said.
A timetable for Tagovailoa’s return is still relevant because even though the Dolphins’ regular season will end on Sunday, Miami has an opportunity to go to the playoffs.
If the Dolphins defeat the Jets and the Denver Broncos lose to the Kansas City Chiefs on the final Sunday of the regular season, Miami will claim the third wild-card spot in the AFC playoff field. Both games will kick off at 3:25 p.m. CST, with the Dolphins on the road and the Broncos at home. FOX will televise the Miami-New York game. CBS will televise the Kansas City-Denver contest.
“It’s tough for any competitor to have to sit out when the season’s on the line and you know you can do more,” Tagovailoa said. “But that just tells you how much trust and respect we have for Snoop. 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. …
“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. There’s no ifs, ands or buts. I’ll be playing, that’s for sure.”
Tagovailoa said he’s “feeling a lot better” and was definitely “frustrated.”
“I thought I could have played last week,” Tagovailoa said, “just the doctors said no. That’s all it was.”
Tagovailoa said medical clearance is what he needs to play again.
“When it comes to pain, I think I’m good with all of that,” Tagovailoa said. “It’s just the restriction of what the doctors are saying I can’t do. That’s what it is. …
“This is just what the doctors are telling me is right for myself and things of that nature. I want to be out there, that’s for sure. But it’s just a risk for myself to be out there if something were to happen again.”
McDaniel has said Tagovailoa’s current ailment is unrelated to the injury that ended his college career. Tagovailoa sustained a dislocated hip and posterior wall fracture against SEC rival Mississippi State on Nov. 16, 2019.
“The one in Alabama was definitely a lot different,” Tagovailoa said. “But I would say this is the more challenging one I had to go through out of all my injuries. With my ankle, playing a week out of surgery, it wasn’t as bad as this one feels like.”
McDaniel has said Tagovailoa sustained the injury during a 20-12 loss to the Houston Texans on Dec. 15 and aggravated it in a 29-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Dec. 22. Tagovailoa took every offensive snap for the Dolphins in both games.
But Miami used Huntley at quarterback in its 20-3 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 29.
