Tua Tagovailoa injury: Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores offers positive update

On3 imageby:Ashton Pollard09/24/21

ashtonpollard7

tua-tagovailoa-injury-miami-dolphins-brian-flores-update-alabama-crimson-tide
Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will not play this weekend due to fractured ribs suffered in last week’s game against Buffalo, but the second-year player is making progress, per Miami head coach Brian Flores. 

“He’s getting a little better every day,” Flores said Friday, via Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “We’re kind of in this day-to-day space and we’ll have a little bit more time to make a decision, to gather some more information.”

Tagovailoa took a shot to the rib area from AJ Epenesa on Sunday and was reportedly in a lot of pain after the game. He tried to return, but the staff would not let him. He had gone 1-for-4 with 13 yards at that point, and he had already been sacked twice.

Putting Tagovailoa on IR would mean he is out for at least three weeks, and the Dolphins are not taking that step. It is possible the former Alabama star could return earlier depending on his pain tolerance, pain-killing injections and the potential use of a flack jacket to protect the injured area. 

“I think with Tua, it’s day-to-day and we want to see how he’s doing every day,” Flores added. “Is he making improvement? And that kind of gives us a lot of the information we need to make those types of decisions.”

Miami’s offense desperately needs a spark after two dismal showings

Jacoby Brissett will start at quarterback for Miami on Sunday in Las Vegas against the Raiders. Brissett went 24-for-40 with 169 yards and an interception when he came in for Tagovailoa last week and is 12-20 as an NFL starter. Reid Sinnett is Brissett’s backup.

The Dolphins hurt themselves last weekend, committing three turnovers and dropping multiple passes. They went 0-for-4 on 4th down, and Tagovailoa was injured on one of those 4th down plays. 

Miami is averaging just 237.5 yards and 8.5 points per game after two weeks; the yardage is 31st in the league, while the points are last. Of course, they have only played two of the better defenses in the NFL in Buffalo and New England, but the early offensive trends do not look good for a team which started the season with deep postseason aspirations.

Explosive pass catcher Will Fuller is set to make his Miami debut on Sunday and could help the struggling offense. Fuller was suspended for the first game of the season for violating the NFL’s PED policy, and he missed last week’s game for personal reasons. He signed a one-year, $10 million deal with Miami this offseason after five seasons in Houston where he averaged 14.9 yards per reception.