Brian Flores issues statement on Tua Tagovailoa's position with Dolphins after win

The Miami Dolphins announced Jacoby Brissett would start instead of Tua Tagovailoa against the Baltimore Ravens earlier this week on Thursday. Both were active but Miami did not trust the fractured finger in the former Alabama quarterback’s throwing hand.

After Brissett briefly went down with a knee injury Thursday night, Tagovailoa was inserted. He wound up going 8 for 13 in the air for 158 yards and added a one-yard rushing touchdown, putting the game on ice for Miami.

Dolphins head coach Brian Flores commented on the quarterback situation on Friday, saying Tagovailoa will be the starter going forward. Miami has a 10-day break before facing the New York Giants. There will be plenty of time for the fractured finger to heal.

“Jacoby was banged up yesterday, same with Tua. I thought Tua did a good job of fighting through the discomfort,” Flores said. “He banged his finger too during the game too, which is what we were trying to avoid. So I think this situation with Tua, obviously I’ve said many times, he’s our quarterback.

“I said this last night, we try to protect players from themselves, trying to avoid that situation with him banging his finger last night. So we gotta take it day-to-day with both players. We’ll see how that goes. But this isn’t like a … we’re not trying to turn this into a controversial situation where we don’t want this certain player to play. I think I try to look out for the best interest of the players individually, the team. All of those things play a role in the decisions we make. That was the case last night.”

Miami selected Tagovailoa with the No. 5 pick in the 2020 NFL draft. He has started in five of the six games he has been healthy for this season. Tagovailoa has thrown for 1,198 yards, seven touchdowns, and five interceptions.

Before going down with his injury, Brissett was 11 of 23 with 156 yards. Miami’s offense had only managed to score six points, punting the ball five times. Once Tagovailoa was inserted, there were still some struggles but the job was completed with a win.

Pending his health, Tagovailoa will be the starter from the Dolphins against the Jets. Fans chanted his name as he walked off the field with a game ball Thursday night. Flores has been back and forth himself with playing the lefty but claims he will be the guy going forward.