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Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa ended the Miami Dolphins’ previous game on the sidelines, and the Alabama All-American could start the next game as well.
Dolphins coach Brian Flores retired Tagovailoa in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 20-13 loss to the Denver Broncos in favor of Ryan Fitzpatrick. Flores said the decision would not be carried over to Sunday’s game against the New York Jets.
But Tagovailoa suffered a thumb injury on his throwing hand during practice on Wednesday, and Miami’s injury report says his status is questionable for Sunday after three days of limited practice.
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Ahead of Thursday’s practice, Flores said he “didn’t think this was something that worried us too much” before declaring: “If he can go, he will.”
After Friday’s practice, however, Flores said the coaches would “watch the movie and make a decision” on the rookie’s status.
“Anytime you have an injury to any part of the body, be it your foot, hand or shoulder, all hindrance is hindrance is hindrance,” Flores said. “I think we’re just trying to work on it, process it, and that’s what Tua does, like any other player. And everyone is a little different. …
“I know he’s a tough, tough kid. He wants to play and we’ll see how it goes.
The fifth player chosen in the NFL Draft on April 23, Tagovailoa did not play until he had managed the last five shots in a 24-0 win over the Jets on October 18. In the week off that followed, the Dolphins replaced Fitzpatrick. with Tagovailoa as a starting quarterback and won all three rookie starts until he clashed with the Broncos.
With Miami trailing 20-10 with 10:33 to go, Flores shot Tagovailoa to allow Fitzpatrick to execute the two-minute attack. The Dolphins got a basket and were on the Denver 15-yard line with 1:03 left when Fitzpatrick was taken out in the end zone.
Flores said Tagovailoa will be back under center for the next game.
“Obviously he’s a very talented player,” Flores said on Monday. “He played well. He’s a young player, he’s an improving player and he’s a developing player. We have great confidence in him. That’s why he’s the starter.
Tagovailoa said being shot didn’t shake him or look over his shoulder.
“I would say my level of confidence as a person never varies,” Tagovailoa said ahead of Wednesday’s practice. “It remains the same for me. Whatever happened in the Broncos game was for the benefit of the team. …
“For me, there is no gaze behind me, to the left or to the right. This is what I can do to help our guys be successful, and we have another week and another opportunity to do that.
Tagovailoa said it was helpful watching Fitzpatrick in the closing minutes because “I often see guys who are covered, but they’re not necessarily covered” in the eyes of the 16-year-old veteran.
“If I don’t see the guy open I’m not going to pitch,” Tagovailoa said Wednesday. “That’s really how it went in games and also in training. It’s one of those things where you just have to practice. You see it, you practice, get throws with guys in tight covers and tight windows, and then you sort of dictate how you felt through that, and if you didn’t like it, it didn’t. will not happen in the game.
Tagovailoa has seen open receivers in Alabama with Crimson Tide’s Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy joining him in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft and DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle Bama’s next receivers heading to the league. Dolphins offensive coordinator Chan Gailey has said Tagovailoa’s mastery of what constitutes “open” in the NFL will increase as he plays.
“If a guy is on (Miami wide receiver) DeVante Parker’s back hip, sometimes he’s not covered,” Gailey said. “You can throw him and he can play a game. If they’re on the back hip of another receiver, they might be covered. I think it depends on the player. I think it depends on the DB – is it a rookie that has no speed and is even with someone, but we are preparing to break out? I believe that all of this comes with experience. To be able to go over there and see a guy, “OK, he’s same, but he’s open.” Well, this guy is even, but he might not be open.
“I think you just have to keep working with the receiver, you have to keep working with the routes and you have to see it over and over again to know ‘This guy is going to open up, I just have to throw him in a place- it and let it go and get it. And then other times, don’t try to force the ball. It’s a fine line. It speaks from both sides of your mouth as an offensive coordinator. If it’s complete, great job. If it’s incomplete, “Wrong decision, you shouldn’t have thrown it out”. It’s easy to say. We just have to help him become more comfortable seeing things, more repetitions and let him keep learning and improving because if he knows it’s something he’s watching, that is an advantage for us because at least he knows it. “
The Dolphins and Jets kick off Sunday at noon CST at MetLife Field in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Miami is 6-4 and the Jets are 0-10.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at Ark AMarkG1.
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