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DAVIE, Florida – Veteran Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills, a source confirmed to ESPN.
The Dolphins and the NFL conducted an initial contact tracing without identified high-risk close contacts on Thursday afternoon, a source told ESPN, but that process will continue. Fitzpatrick trained fully on Wednesday and was not listed on the injury report, but did not train on Thursday afternoon, indicating the positive COVID-19 test was a recent surprise.
Rookie Tua Tagovailoa is the Dolphins’ starting quarterback, but Fitzpatrick was called up twice in the fourth quarter to play what coach Brian Flores referred to as a “ninth inning reliever” role. Fitzpatrick led the Dolphins to a 26-25 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday after a 34-yard lift paired with a 15-yard face-mask penalty that established the winning basket.
The Dolphins signed Jake Rudock in the 53-man squad on Thursday, and he is expected to be Tagovailoa’s replacement on Sunday. Tagovailoa, Rudock and practice team quarterback Reid Sinnett trained fully on Thursday.
NFL Network first reported Fitzpatrick’s positive test.
The Dolphins will clinch a playoff berth with a victory over the Bills. They could still make the playoffs with a loss, but would need a loss to the Cleveland Browns (to a Steelers team resting from the main starters), Indianapolis Colts (to Jaguars) or Baltimore Ravens ( against the Bengals). The Bills, who won the AFC East but can win the No.2 or No.3 seed depending on the results of Week 17, have been hesitant to play their starters.
Fitzpatrick, 38, is 4-3 as a starter this season, totaling 2,091 yards with 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
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