Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa reportedly expected to return for Jaguars game in London
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is expected to return from his rib injury and be ready for the team’s Oct. 17 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, according to ESPN.
The timeline would mean Tagovailoa is activated to the 53-man roster after the three-week injured reserve timeline is over.
Tagovailoa sustained fractured ribs on the second possession of the team’s Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills and was placed on IR before the team’s Week 3 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Jacoby Brissett entered for Tagovailoa in Week 2 and started against the Raiders and Indianapolis Colts. Brissett has completed 66 of 119 passes for 583 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He has also rushed for 57 yards and one touchdown.
Reid Sinnett was signed from the practice squad to the active roster and has served as the backup while Tagovailoa has been sidelined.
Though the new-look offense with co-offensive coordinators George Godsey and Eric Studesville has only had one full game this season with Tagovailoa as starter, the unit has regressed through four games of the 2021 season. Tagovailoa’s return could boost a unit — even if marginally — that has struggled during the team’s three-game losing streak. In the Dolphins’ season-opening win over the New England Patriots, the offense gained 259 total yards and generated 5 yards per play. In the last three games, the Dolphins have averaged 305 yards but are gaining just 4.4 yards per play.
The Dolphins have particularly struggled to pass the ball downfield with what was supposed to be an upgraded receiving corps that includes No. 6 overall pick Jaylen Waddle and free-agent acquisition Will Fuller. Brissett’s average intended air yards, defined as how far downfield the ball is being thrown, is 6.9, which ranks in the bottom half of 35 passers with at least 30 attempts this season. Tagovailoa, albeit with a smaller sample size, is averaging 8.3 intended air yards, which ranks in the middle of the pack.
Growing pains from a young offensive line haven’t helped the fate of either quarterback. The unit has used four starting combinations in as many games and has allowed 13 sacks.
Head coach Brian Flores said after the team’s 27-17 loss to the Colts on Sunday that he had not considered benching Brissett for Sinnett during the game despite the offense totaling just 203 net yards and 91 through three quarters.
This story has been updated.
This story was originally published October 3, 2021 at 9:55 AM.
