Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been ruled out of Sunday’s playoff game against the Buffalo Bills.
Head coach Mike McDaniel made the announcement Wednesday as Tagovailoa has yet to clear the concussion protocol.
Tua Tagovailoa of the Dolphins gives instructions during the Green Bay Packers game at Hard Rock Stadium on December 25, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida.
(Eric Espada/Getty Images)
«To this day, Tua has not been cleared by doctors to resume on-field soccer activities with his teammates, for that and the time he missed, I can rule him out for Sunday,» McDaniel said. according to NFL Network.
The Dolphins are preparing to start rookie Skylar Thompson at Sunday’s Wild Card Gameaccording to ESPN.
DOLPHINS’ TUA TAGOVAILOA IS NOT YET CLEARED TO PRACTICE WITH THE PLAYOFFS AROUND THE CORNER
Tagovailoa found himself in concussion protocol following Miami’s Week 16 game against the Green Bay Packersmissing the last two games of the regular season.
«So he hasn’t been cleared for that level yet,» McDaniel said Tuesday about whether Tagovailoa could start non-practice drills. «I hope to, with all three quarterbacks on the active roster all have injury concerns. I hope I get some clarity on Wednesday. But as of now, it’s literally the same, if not vaguer, than when I saw to most of you for the last time.»
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sits on the bench against the Packers at Hard Rock Stadium on December 25, 2022 in Miami Gardens.
(John McCall/South Florida Sun-Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Tagovailoa’s concussion against the Packers was at least his second of the 2022 NFL season, and the third-year quarterback missed two games later. suffering a concussion against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4.
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That concussion came four days after Tagovailoa stumbled after hitting his head on a blow in Miami’s game against the Buffalo Bills in Week 3.
The Dolphins will now face the difficult task of beating Josh Allen and the Bills on the road without his best quarterback.
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Thompson started Miami in their postseason-clinching win over the New York Jets in week 18 while backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater suffered a dislocated little finger on his throwing hand the week before.
Skylar Thompson of the Dolphins warms up for the New York Jets game on January 8, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida.
(Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
Thompson went 20-31 for 152 yards and zero touchdowns in an 11-6 win over the Jets.
Miami has lost five of its last six games entering the NFL playoffs.
Tagovailoa played well when healthy this season, throwing for 3,548 yards, 25 touchdowns and just eight interceptions in 13 games.