The Dolphins enter Week 18 with legitimate playoff hopes, but they'll likely play their last must-win game of the regular season without their quarterback.
Tua Tagovailoa (hip) is not expected to play Sunday versus the New York Jets, Miami coach Mike McDaniel told reporters Friday. Miami is preparing as if Tyler Huntley will make his second straight start in Tagovailoa's place, McDaniel added
"We'll approach it like Snoop's starting," McDaniel said. "It looks like the way that I approached the week (before) was probably smart. I see it as unlikely that Tua will see any action."
Tagovailoa is officially doubtful to play after limited participation in practice throughout the week.
Huntley fared well in his Week 17 start, leading the Dolphins in rushing and powering their entire offense in a 20-3 win over the Browns that was not as easy as the score suggested. The game represented a notable improvement in Huntley's play from his earlier appearances in relief of Tagovailoa, likely brought on by being afforded more time to learn and practice in McDaniel's offense.
McDaniel has reason to believe Huntley can get the job done against a Jets team that is 60 minutes from the offseason, which is why he isn't leaving open much of a possibility that Tagovailoa will play. Tagovailoa's injury is concerning, though, standing as another notable mark in a lengthy health history that includes a previous significant hip injury.
Tagovailoa told reporters Friday that he's "frustrated" by the injury and felt he could have played in Week 17 but wasn't medically cleared. The Dolphins QB added that he expects to play next week -- "no ifs, ands or buts about it" -- if Miami reaches the postseason.
As McDaniel described it Friday, Miami isn't pushing Tagovailoa because he's simply not strong enough to perform right now. Even if it was the Super Bowl, it sounds as if Tagovailoa's status would still be uncertain.
"A bruise would be like pain tolerance," McDaniel said. "That's something that I think Tua wishes it was just a pain issue. It's quite literally being able to have the strength to do what we ask him to do, as well as protecting himself from very serious injury if we don't treat it appropriately. I wouldn't say it's a bruise, but it's a unique muscle issue as a result of the hip."
Miami will hope for the best possible outcome this weekend: a Dolphins win, a Broncos loss (in order to clear Miami's path to the playoffs) and an optimistic prognosis for their franchise quarterback. Anything less will be disappointing.
