Miami Dolphins: Brian Flores reveals Tua Tagovailoa status for Sunday's game

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will be out for this weekend’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders, according to head coach Brian Flores.

“I said it on Monday that we’re going to run some more test. We ran those tests — Tua is going to be out this week,” said Flores, in his press conference today. “He has fractured ribs.”

“He’s in a lot of pain. So he’ll be out this week — Jacoby [Brissett] will start. We’re just going to take it week to week. Really, let’s call it day to day, not week to week. But he’ll be out this week.”

Unfortunately, Tagovailoa suffered the injury early in the Dolphins’ 35-0 loss to the Buffalo Bills. At the time, the former Alabama star was 1 for 4, accumulating 13 yards passing.

In his stead, former New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett played. However, things didn’t go well for him — completing 24 of 40 passes for 169 yards and an interception.

Tagovailoa: Looking to improve upon rookie campaign

The Dolphins selected Tagovailoa fifth overall in the 2020 NFL Draft after a productive collegiate career. As a rookie in the NFL, Tagovailoa played in 10 games, completing 64.1 percent of his passes with 11 touchdowns. Tagovailoa was inconsistent at times as a rookie, but he showed enough to take the starting job from journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Tagovailoa is one of three Alabama quarterbacks that currently start in the NFL, joining Jalen Hurts and Mac Jones. Hurts was actually replaced in the 2018 National Championship game by Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa led a strong comeback against Georgia to bring home the championship. He threw for 166 yards while completing 14 of his 26 passes in the game.

In 2019, Tagovailoa set the NCAA FBS passer rating record with a rating of 199.4. Alabama again made it to the national championship, although they lost to Clemson in the game. Tagovailoa had 3,966 yards, 43 touchdowns and six interceptions in his first season as Alabama’s starter. A hip injury derailed Tagovailoa’s final season in Tuscaloosa.

Tagovailoa and the Dolphins are currently 1-1 and in a three-way tie for first place in the AFC East. Miami has a tough three game schedule ahead of them with trips to Las Vegas and Tampa Bay sandwiching a home date with the Indianapolis Colts.

Hopefully, Tua Tagovailoa’s injury only keeps him out one week. If not, his sophomore season may be marred by injuries.